Sheila Franks

A mom vanishes in the Emerald Triangle
A fighter, a survivor, and a devoted mother, Sheila Sherrell Franks is remembered by her family as a strong woman who had overcome many challenges in her life. The 37-year-old White woman was a divorced mother of two sons, with whom she was in constant contact. Her older sister, Melisa, recalled with affection how as a child, Sheila would always want to tag along, a testament to the deep bond they shared. Sheila, who had blonde hair and blue eyes, was living in California's Humboldt County area in early 2014, moving between the communities of Rio Dell and Loleta. On the morning of February 2, 2014, she sent a text message to her youngest son, a daily habit. It was the last communication her family would ever have with her.

At the time of her disappearance, Sheila was living with a man named James "Jim" Eugene Jones. When questioned, he reportedly told investigators that Sheila had gone for a walk that day and never returned. Her family, knowing it was deeply uncharacteristic for her to be out of touch, reported her missing to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on March 13, 2014. Her case was almost immediately linked to another local disappearance. Just days earlier, on January 29, 2014, a 23-year-old woman named Danielle Bertolini had also vanished from the same area. Danielle was last seen on February 9, getting a ride from a man near Swains Flat on Highway 36.

Investigators quickly discovered a common link: the last person seen with both Sheila and Danielle was James Jones. Jones, who had a history of arrests for drugs and domestic violence, was identified as a person of interest in both disappearances, though law enforcement did not officially release his name at the time. The striking similarities between the two women and their shared connection to Jones led authorities to believe the cases were connected. These disappearances brought wider attention to a string of unsolved cases in the region, with an advocate for missing persons coining the term "The Humboldt Five" to group the cases of Sheila, Danielle, Jennifer Wilmer, Karen Mitchell, and Christine Walters and raise public awareness.

The families of Sheila and Danielle united in their grief and their search for answers, creating social media pages to keep the women's stories alive. In March 2015, a fisherman discovered Danielle Bertolini's skull near the Eel River, upstream from Howe Creek. Her death was officially ruled a homicide. The search for Sheila, however, continued for four more years. On June 10, 2019, a human femur bone was found at Crab Park near the mouth of the Eel River in Loleta. In September 2019, the California Department of Justice laboratory used DNA from Sheila’s family to confirm the bone belonged to her.

An extensive search of the area where the femur was found yielded no other remains. Due to the limited evidence, a cause and manner of death could not be determined. However, authorities have consistently stated that Sheila's death is considered suspicious and is being investigated as such. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency on Sheila’s case, while the Fortuna Police Department leads the investigation into Danielle Bertolini’s homicide, with both agencies working closely together.

For years, the cases remained without significant public developments. Then, on March 3, 2024, James Jones was arrested by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department on unrelated charges. He was booked for felony stalking, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamines, and misdemeanor possession of a switchblade knife. While he has never been officially named a suspect by the Fortuna Police Department in connection to the homicides, he remains the last person known to have seen both Sheila Franks and Danielle Bertolini alive.

The cases of Sheila Franks and Danielle Bertolini remain open and unsolved. Sheila’s sister, Melisa, has shared heartfelt letters on social media, thanking the community for their support in sharing Sheila’s story and keeping her memory alive. The families continue to advocate for justice and closure.

Anyone with information about the death of Sheila Franks is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department at (707) 445-7251. Information regarding Danielle Bertolini’s case can be directed to the Fortuna Police Department at (707) 725-7550.