A new charge has been levied against a woman accused of murdering a 2-year-old foster child in 2021.
Ashley Pearce-Pifferini was charged with felony child abuse by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office last Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty today.
During the investigation into Phoenix Jayden Asti’s death, police testified they found Pearce-Pifferini texted an image of the boy with bruising on the side of his face to her partner on Oct. 24, 2021.
When examining the image in court, a child abuse expert testified the markings were consistent with bruising from an open hand slap.
According to police testifying on digital forensics, she texted her partner she couldn’t figure out what he would have done to cause the injuries.
The new charge alleges the woman willfully caused unjustifiable physical pain and mental suffering to Asti on Oct. 24, 2021, according to an updated complaint.
Previously, Pearce-Pifferini was held to answer to charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. Experts testified during a preliminary hearing the severity of injuries Asti died from could not have been caused by incidents she said caused his head trauma — including banging his own head on a crib because he was mad, or a possible short fall in the bathtub.
Earlier this month, prosecutors argued that medical evidence, including details from Asti’s autopsy, showed substantial internal head injuries with multiple impact sites. Prosecutors alleged Pearce-Pifferini repeatedly slammed the boy, causing the blunt impact head trauma that ultimately killed him.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorney noted wrongful convictions are common in these types of cases, and pointed to issues in relying on medical records to explain the boy’s death. He also noted efforts the woman, who has a long history of fostering and no criminal record, took to get medical care for the boy after he was injured on two occasions.
Both sides are expected to bring experts to testify during the trial. The next hearing was set for June 12.
A judge previously found there was enough evidence to go to trial, while noting there was room for more information. He pointed to expert testimony agreeing there could be another explanation for his death, when asked to weigh in on hypotheticals during cross examination.
Asti, a two year old foster child, was described during court proceedings as being “very active and full of life” by District Attorney’s Office Investigator Ryan Hill, who was assigned the case in 2021 and interviewed social workers who knew the boy.
Asti had been in the care of Pearce-Pifferini and her partner from July 2021 until his death that November.
Pearce-Pifferini remains out of custody on a $1 million bail.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On April 20, 2026, at approximately 8:10 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office POP team with the assistance of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 400 block of Blue Lake Boulevard, in Blue Lake.
The search warrant was served on John Edward Hames and his residence after an investigation was initiated after reports were received that Hames was dealing drugs from the residence. During the service of the warrant, deputies located approximately 60 grams of Fentanyl. Hames was arrested without incident and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the following charges:
HS 11351 Possess/purchase for sale narcotic/controlled substance
HS 11366 Keep place to sell narcotics/controlled substances
This investigation is a part of the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing proactive efforts to combat illegal narcotics activity and enhance public safety throughout Humboldt County. If you are selling dangerous drugs in our community, you will be identified and arrested.
Anyone with information related to illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at (707) 267-9976.
At-risk missing person, 80-year-old Bert Snyder, has been safely located in Eureka. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to the public for keeping an eye out and assisting in the effort to find him.
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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
The
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s
assistance in locating a missing at-risk person, Bert Snyder, 80, of
Hoopa, CA. Bert is considered at risk due to dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease.
Bert
was reported missing by his wife on April 20, 2026, at approximately
7:51 a.m. He is believed to have left their residence sometime
between 10:00 p.m. on April 19 and 7:51 a.m. on April 20.
Bert
is believed to be driving a red 2015 Buick Encore (California license
plate #8SWA394). He was possibly seen this morning traveling from
Hoopa toward Willow Creek.
Physical
Description:
White
male adult (WMA), 80 years old
Gray
hair and full beard
Blue
eyes
Height:
6 feet 3 inches
Weight:
approximately 225 pounds
A
Silver Alert has been issued by the California Highway Patrol.
Anyone
with information regarding Bert Snyder’s possible whereabouts is
urged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707)
445-7251.
To
receive updates from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office,
subscribe to alerts at: humboldtsheriff.org/
Press release from the University Police Department:
On Sunday, April 19, at approximately 4:22 p.m., officers from the University Police Department (UPD) at Cal Poly Humboldt responded to a report of a possible dispute involving a man and a Cal Poly Humboldt student who were associated with a dark colored Mercedes on St. Louis Road in Arcata.
Upon arrival, officers contacted both parties and initiated an investigation. It was determined that the individuals, who did not know each other before the incident, had met earlier that day at a local business. While en route to the victim’s residence hall, the suspect abruptly turned the vehicle around and began driving at a high rate of speed. Fearing for their safety, the victim attempted to exit the moving vehicle. The suspect grabbed the back of the victim’s shirt and ordered the victim back into the car. After a brief struggle, the victim managed to escape by falling out of the moving vehicle and then fled on foot.
The suspect pursued the victim on foot until officers arrived and intervened.
The suspect, 53-year-old Michael Nilsson of Arcata, was arrested at the scene and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, where he was booked on charges of Attempted Kidnapping (PC 664/207), False Imprisonment (PC 236), and Disorderly Conduct (PC 647(f)). His bail has been set at $75,000.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact UPD at (707) 826-5555.
Eureka native, business leader, and community advocate, Audra Sisson has officially announced her candidacy for City Council in Ward 1, bringing over two decades of experience in business operations, infrastructure systems, and community engagement to the race.
A proud native of Eureka, California, Audra Sisson was raised exploring the Eel River, Mad River, and Van Duzen River, where she grew up and developed a strong connection with the community and the natural environment and the values of resilience, independence, and hard work.
Audra comes from a deeply rooted Humboldt County family. Her mother is from North County (McKinleyville) and her father is from South County (Fortuna and Carlotta), reflecting a multigenerational connection across the region. Her parents have been married for 57 years, and family values of service, respect, and community care were central to her upbringing. Her father managed a local flooring department for over 35 years, building long-standing relationships throughout the community and instilling a strong understanding of small business, trust, and local responsibility.
Sisson.
As a young mother, she left Humboldt County to create a greater opportunity for her daughter, relocating to San Diego, California. There, she worked multiple jobs while raising her child and earned her degree in Business Management and Finance from San Diego State University.
Over the past 20 years, Audra built a career in technology, sales, operations, and business leadership. She helped small, mid-sized, and enterprise companies grow, improve efficiency, and scale operations across industries including transportation, logistics, software systems, security infrastructure, and water treatment. Her work included collaboration with organizations such as the California Trucking Association (CTA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), Water Quality Association (WQA), and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), with a focus on safety, compliance, and operational performance across multiple sectors of the national infrastructure and industrial economy.
Beyond her professional career, Audra is deeply committed to service and community impact. She has supported youth mentorship programs, community cleanups, and fundraising efforts through organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has also participated in international efforts to help fund and build elementary schools in rural villages in Laos, creating safer and more stable learning environments for children in underserved communities.
Audra is also a mental health advocate focused on expanding access to care, strengthening connections between local service providers, and supporting individuals and families navigating trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges. She believes communities are strongest when support systems are connected, accessible, and easy to navigate.
She is passionate about strengthening small businesses, supporting working families, investing in youth mentorship, and rebuilding community connections across cultural and neighborhood lines in Eureka.
After years building her career across California, Audra returned home to Eureka to care for her mother and reconnect with the community and landscape that shaped her upbringing.
Audra is running for City Council to bring practical, community-centered leadership to Ward 1. She is focused on strengthening access to mental health resources, supporting local businesses, and improving how residents connect with the services and support systems they rely on every day. Her approach is grounded in listening to the community and building on what is already working.
In her spare time, Audra enjoys dancing, writing, attending cultural events, spending time with family, hiking, and is currently working towards becoming a certified yoga instructor.
“This campaign is about listening first, building trust, and making sure the people of Ward 1 feel seen, supported, and represented.” - Audra
Audra’s vision is simple:
A stronger, more connected Eureka where every person feels seen, supported, and able to thrive.
Tagline: Rooted in Community. Focused on You.
Kickoff Event: TBD
For more information or to get involved, please contact: Audra Sisson 619-609-6100.
Learn which wire to snip before the whole thing goes kaboom! Photo by ranjeet via Pexels.
Press release from the Humboldt Builders Exchange:
Humboldt
Builders Exchange is calling on Humboldt County high school
seniors planning careers in the construction industry to apply now
for scholarship opportunities, with a deadline of May
1.
The
scholarships are designed to support local students pursuing
education and training in construction-related fields. Whether a
student plans to attend College of the Redwoods for an
electrician certificate, enroll in a plumbing, HVAC, roofing or
welding program, study project management or attend a four-year
university for an engineering degree, applicants are encouraged to
apply.
“These
scholarships are meant to invest in the next generation of builders,
leaders, and skilled tradespeople right here in Humboldt County,”
said Jada Brotman, Executive Director of the Humboldt Builders
Exchange. “We want to help young people build strong careers while
strengthening our local workforce.”
Fields
considered under the construction trades umbrella include:
Electrical
Plumbing
HVAC
Roofing
Concrete
and cement work
Construction
management
Engineering
Carpentry
Heavy
equipment operation
Welding
Other
construction-related careers
Preference
may be given to applicants who intend to remain in Humboldt County
and contribute to the local community and workforce after completing
their education or training.
Students,
parents, counselors, and educators are encouraged to act quickly, as
the May
1 deadline is approaching fast.
For
questions or to request an application, contact:
Jada
Brotman Executive
Director, Humboldt Builders Exchange 707-617-3382 info@humbx.com
Students head outside to play frisbee golf at Orick School in Orick on April 2, 2026. Nine students attend the school, which ranges from kindergarten to eighth grade. Photo by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
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School closures are an incendiary issue in nearly every corner of California, as enrollment declines and expenses climb. The topic has sparked parent revolts, teacher strikes and school boards’ desperate attempts to keep districts financially afloat.
And then there’s Orick.
The picturesque town in northern Humboldt County has a historic school with five classrooms, a gym, a vegetable garden and an expansive play field. Its current enrollment: nine. Its expenses: $118,000 per student per year, more than five times the state average.
California has dozens of school districts with enrollments under 100 and higher-than-average expenses. Most of these districts are in remote areas miles from the next nearest school. But as urban districts grapple with the threat of school closures and the inevitable backlash from families and staff, rural schools face an even more heart-wrenching scenario: close the school and decimate the town.
“Close the school? It comes up all the time,” said Orick Elementary School District Superintendent Justin Wallace. “But I’d say it’s an equity issue. We have families who can’t afford a lot, and this school provides the most consistent setting for our kids. They’re safe, they’re well fed, they’re learning.”
Most of these rural towns once had booming local economies. Logging, ranching, farming, mining and other industries employed generations of families. In the 1960s Orick had 3,000 people and nearly 300 students in its school. There were seven lumber mills, grocery stores, restaurants, churches, even a movie theater.
But as California’s economy changed and jobs in these towns vanished, many communities struggled to find a new purpose. In Orick, the lumber mills gradually closed, the National Park Service claimed much of the surrounding land and residents moved elsewhere. Now, Orick has about 300 people and an average household income that’s just under $39,000 a year — a third of the state average. According to Orick School’s accountability plan, Orick residents “experience high rates of poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, domestic violence, substance abuse, and run-ins with the criminal justice system due to limited resources and high community rates of intergenerational trauma.”
‘Terrified’ of closure
In towns like Orick, the school serves as a savior, of sorts. It’s a community hub, one of the few sources of decent-paying jobs and a symbol of hope for the future. It’s a central part of the town’s identity. The school in Orick operates as a food pantry for the community, gives away clothes to families in need, hosts Narcotics Anonymous meetings and runs a toddler playgroup. The district bought a washer and dryer so residents have a place to do laundry.
Kimberly Frick is the fifth generation in her family to attend Orick School. She remembers when the classrooms were full, students won trophies and the town was like a close-knit family. Now she’s president of the school board and fights to keep the school open. Saving the school, she said, is tantamount to saving the town.
She and Wallace scour the area to find new students for the school. Every time a new family moves to town, they visit and try to persuade them to enroll their children. Other community members chip in, as well, by fixing up homes, keeping the town clean and participating in the volunteer fire department, water district and other local services.
“I feel terrified about the possibility of the school closing. I’d hate to see it happen on my watch,” Frick said. “The facility is clean, safe, well maintained. We provide a high-quality, individualized education for each child.”
Orick School provides a resource room where community members can access a food pantry, clothing and a washer and dryer. Orick on April 2, 2026. Photos by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
Justin Wallace, superintendent and principal of Orick School, padlocks the school garden to keep it safe from elk that frequently wander onto the school grounds, in Orick on April 2, 2026. Wallace built the garden and enclosure with Kimberly Frick, the president of the Orick School Board of Directors. This year, the students are growing radishes, carrots, onions, turnips and leafy greens, which are utilized in school lunches. Photo by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
Orick, whose name originates from the language of the nearby Yurok tribe, sits in a lush valley along Redwood Creek, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Ranges. A herd of about 60 elk roam through the town and are frequent visitors to the school play field. There’s a pizza truck, a small convenience store and a newly refurbished hotel. A rodeo draws crowds every July.
But much of the town is abandoned or dilapidated. A trailer park near the school is strewn with trash and broken furniture. Many of the buildings are boarded up. There’s no gas station. The post office is only open a few hours a day.
Budget breakdown
California funds its schools based on how many students show up every day. But small districts get most of their money in grants, in order to protect them from wild fluctuations in revenue. Last year Orick received $774,000 from the state and federal governments. The school gets extra money because so many of its students have high needs: all are low-income and more than half receive special education services. Some years, numerous students are homeless or in foster care.
Most of the budget goes toward salaries. The school has four full-time staff: two teachers, an administrative assistant and Wallace’s position, which includes serving as superintendent, principal, literacy coach and special education director. A janitor, cook, counselor, special education teacher and after-school teacher all work part time. Maintaining the school buildings is expensive: heating bills can cost $1,100 a month. So is transportation, because everything is far away. When the students take swim lessons, for example, a driver transports them 30 miles south to McKinleyville. Whatever funds are left over go toward student supplies and enrichment activities like field trips.
Students work on projects inside a classroom at Orick School in Orick on April 2, 2026. Justin Wallace, the school’s superintendent and principal, and Matt Schroeder, an after-school teacher, are filling in for the school’s teacher, who is out sick. Photo by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
An obvious way for the state to save money would be to merge Orick School District with its neighbor, Big Lagoon Union Elementary District, 15 miles south. But the merged district would only save money on facility costs and one superintendent’s salary, totaling less than $200,000 a year, because the new merged school would have higher expenses, such as the cost of transporting students 30 miles round-trip every day.
A merger would also alienate one of the communities, Wallace said. Both communities are highly invested in their schools and prize their independence and local control, he said.
How to close a district
In the early 20th century, California had more than 3,500 school districts, each with its own school board, superintendent and unique traditions. To save money, the state gradually winnowed the number down to the 1,000 that exist today. But there are holdouts. Sonoma County, for example, has 40 school districts, some with only a handful of students.
“It’s one of the most common questions we get: Why do we have 40 school districts?” said Eric Wittmershaus, spokesman for the Sonoma County Office of Education. “Everyone in the community agrees it’s too many. The problem is that no one wants to close their school.”
California has a lax attitude toward closing under-enrolled schools. The state lets a district’s average daily attendance slip below six before it intervenes. In those cases, the county can request a temporary waiver, in hopes that enrollment increases, or start the process of consolidating the district with one of its neighbors. But consolidation rarely happens because local officials and voters have the ultimate say.
Orick School students eat lunch in the cafeteria, which doubles as a gymnasium, in Orick on April 2, 2026. Nine students attend the school, which ranges from kindergarten to eighth grade. Photo by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
In 2011, the Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended upping the minimum district size to 100, but the recommendation was never implemented. In fact, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s current budget includes a 20% boost in funding for schools that the state deems to be “necessary small schools,” which are elementary schools with fewer than 97 students – or high schools with fewer than 287 students – at least 10 miles from the nearest other school.
Grand juries in Santa Clara and Sonoma counties have recommended consolidating small districts to save money, but neither of those reports led to changes.
Still, some experts say that financial realities may force the issue. Enrollment is declining nearly everywhere and it might not be the best use of taxpayer money to pay for half-empty classrooms and deserted playgrounds.
“Do we need to provide a school in every community? A post office? What if that community barely exists?” said Carrie Hahnel, senior associate partner at Bellwether, an education research nonprofit. “We guarantee a free public education to every child, but do we guarantee a school in every community?”
Now and then, districts will shutter. Last year, Green Point Elementary District, deep in the Klamath mountains, consolidated with a neighboring district when its enrollment fell to three (its per-pupil spending was $108,000 a year). In Sonoma County, Kashia Elementary District, with eight students last year, is at risk of closing next year.
Schools reclaimed by nature
Enrollment in Humboldt County has been declining steadily since at least the 1990s, and isn’t expected to rebound any time soon. A century ago the county had about 100 school districts, essentially one in every mill town, but as the mills closed the districts gradually closed, too.
Some of those towns — and their schools — have been swallowed up by the redwood forests. The old logging town of Falk, for example, had a school, mill, post office, dance hall and about 400 residents. After the mill closed, the town gradually emptied out and the Sierra Pacific lumber company, which owned the land, tore down whatever buildings were left in 1979. “Aside from the rose bushes and English ivy, the town of Falk has literally disappeared,” according to the county’s visitor guide.
Students play frisbee golf at Orick School in Orick on April 2, 2026. Nine students attend the school, which ranges from kindergarten to eighth grade. Photo by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
Michael Davies-Hughes, the county superintendent of schools, encourages small districts to plan ahead to avoid abrupt mid-year closures, which are disruptive to students, families and staff.
“We want districts to be proactive, so they have options,” Davies-Hughes said. “For some, the current model may be increasingly difficult to maintain.”
Outdoor ed and Native traditions
In Orick, older students take a bus 40 minutes every day to attend high school in McKinleyville. Wallace and Frick said it’s unrealistic to put younger children on a bus for long distances, especially in bad weather. Humboldt County has long, dark, rainy winters, with roads often blocked by fallen trees, floods or mudslides.
Besides, Frick and Wallace said, Orick School does a great job educating its students, which is reason enough to keep it open. It has an exemplary outdoor education program, with students going on regular excursions into the nearby wilderness, learning about the local flora and fauna, the seasons and forest ecosystem. They raise trout and steelhead to be released in local waterways, test water quality in the creek and watch pollywogs turn into frogs in classroom terrariums.
Wildlife is all around them. In addition to the elk, students can observe condors and falcons soaring overhead, deer and coyotes hanging around the field and even the occasional bear. Students learn to fish, camp, raft and surf.
About half the students are Native American, and the school offers a robust education in Native traditions and history. A Yurok volunteer comes regularly to teach Yurok culture through activities such collecting acorns and making mash, and extracting pine nuts from pinecones to make beads.
“I mean, come on, how many other schools are in such an incredible setting?” Frick said. “Orick is a great place to go to school.”
