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Woman found dead, burned near Mecca deputy-involved-shooting identified

Published December 10, 2018 6:00 PM

A woman whose charred body was found near the scene of a June deputy-involved-shooting has been officially identified.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, 38-year-old Brandy Kiehl’s body was discovered on June 3 in the area of Lincoln Street and 66th avenue in Mecca. Earlier in the day, a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed 42-year-old David Ponce, who was reportedly non-compliant and wielding an axe.

Kiehl’s mother, Sandy Kiehl, told News Channel 3 in late June that the remains belonged to her daughter.

Charred remains found in the same day & area as officer-involved shooting

“We walked up to the front door and the Coquille police department was here and he told me he needed to talk to me and we needed to go inside and that’s all he had to say and I knew it wasn’t going to be good,” Sandie recalled.

Kieh’ls cause of death has been ruled undetermined at this time, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies shoot and kill man allegedly armed with axe

Authorities haven’t released more details on whether the deputy-involved shooting and the discovery of Brandy’s remains are related. However, workers at the nearby Galilee Center recognized photographs of Brandy, who had been seen using the center’s showers along with her companion, who Sandie Kiehl says was named David.