Key Takeaways
- A 68-year-old woman was found dead June 8 on Hawkinsville View Road in Siskiyou County.
- A passerby reported the body on June 8, and forensic analysis later identified the victim as Frankie Marie Keller of Seiad Valley.
- An autopsy concluded the cause was blunt force trauma and the manner was homicide.
- Deputies arrested the victim's roommate, Elzie Jane Hernandez, 39, on June 29 in Sacramento County.
- Hernandez is being held in Siskiyou County Jail on a murder charge; her preliminary hearing is Aug. 14.
- The sheriff's office is asking the public for help locating the victim's next of kin.
Investigation Leads to Arrest
On June 8, a passerby reported an unidentified woman's body along Hawkinsville View Road. A patrol unit arrived and found the body that morning. Detectives later identified the woman through forensic analysis as Frankie Marie Keller of Seiad Valley.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office announced the homicide findings Monday morning. Frankie Marie Keller was found dead along Hawkinsville View Road in the community of Hawkinsville. Detectives identified her roommate as the prime suspect and obtained an arrest warrant on June 29.
That same day, Sacramento County sheriff's deputies stopped Hernandez while she was driving from Butte County toward Sacramento. She was taken into custody without incident and returned to Siskiyou County.
Court Proceedings
Hernandez was booked into the Siskiyou County Jail on suspicion of murder. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at the county courthouse. The investigation remains active, according to sheriff's spokesperson Sage Milestone.
On August 3, 2026, the sheriff's office issued a press release updating the public on the case. The release confirmed the timeline and again asked for assistance in locating next of kin. For media inquiries, contact the public information officer at (530) 598 1647.
Local California Context
Hawkinsville is a small unincorporated community in Siskiyou County, a rural region along the Oregon border. The case required coordination between multiple agencies, including the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, to bring the suspect back to Siskiyou County.
Background
Homicides are uncommon in Siskiyou County, making this case particularly notable for residents. The sheriff's office has not released a possible motive. The public is being asked to assist in locating Keller's family members.
Conclusion
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Keller's family or the circumstances of her death to contact Agent Smith or Detective Gulick with the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office at 530-841-2900. The case will move forward with the Aug. 14 preliminary hearing.