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PREVIOUSLY:

• Eureka’s Lamplighter Inn Shuttered Indefinitely After Two Mysterious Deaths

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Note: The official order closing the motel was released to the Outpost this morning, following a public records act request. It can be found here.

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On February 21st, 2026 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) and members of the Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) were dispatched to a motel at the 4000 block of Broadway for a report of two unconscious patients due to a possible drug overdose. Upon arrival, one patient, 37-year-old female, was found deceased and the additional patient was transported to a local hospital.

On February 26th, 2026 at approximately 12:00 p.m., EPD and HBF were dispatched to an additional report of two individuals unconscious at the same motel in the 4000 block of Broadway, and in the same room as the call from February 21st, from a suspected drug overdose. Again, one patient, 36- year-old female, was found deceased and the additional patient was found in critical condition and was transported by City Ambulance to a local hospital.

During the second incident, after the patient was transported, HBF personnel on scene displayed signs of mild Carbon Monoxide exposure. HBF conducted atmospheric monitoring inside the room using a gas monitor, which registered elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide in the room. No Carbon Monoxide detectors were located in the room. HBF Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshall, Detectives and Evidence Techs from the Criminal Investigations Unit with EPD, Pacific Gas and Electric Company responded to the scene. Occupants were evacuated from the motel while it was ventilated. The property owner was contacted and at that time, City of Eureka’s Code Enforcement and the Chief Building official were requested to the scene. The Chief Building official, HBF Fire Chief and the Fire Marshall determined the motel should not be occupied until mechanical inspections of each room were completed and additional fire code violations are remedied. The City of Eureka Building Official served the business owner with a First and Final Notice requiring the location to be closed until identified violations are remedied and inspected.

It should be noted, in accordance with the California Fire Code, HBF conducted the annual fire inspection of the motel in July of 2025, violations were notated however upon additional inspection a week later, the violations were corrected.

Humboldt County Sheriff Coroner’s Office was contacted and advised cause of death for both decendants is listed as pending investigation. The names of the decedents are being withheld until notification of next of kin can be verified.

This is an ongoing active multi-agency investigation. Anyone with information contact EPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.