FBI exhumes dead animals at NorCal rescue, hundreds more feared missing

A Humboldt County animal rescue at the center of a widening cruelty and fraud investigation was searched again Tuesday as investigators began excavating the property for the remains of hundreds of missing animals.

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Investigators served a second search warrant at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, nearly two months after authorities first searched the property, according to a news release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The new warrant authorized excavation “in an effort to locate additional deceased animals believed to be buried on site,” the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff William Honsal said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that investigators had identified 900 animals transferred to Miranda’s Rescue since January 2025 but had confirmed only 116 adoptions. He said more than 700 animals remain unaccounted for.

“We are thinking worst-case scenario,” Honsal said, according to video taken by local TV station KRCR-TV. “… We are here to look and uncover whatever evidence that we can possibly find.”

Despite the active excavation of dead animals, the rescue is still operating with around 50 dogs on-site. Honsal said state law does not allow his agency to shut down the business. Shannon Miranda, the rescue operation’s owner, has not been charged with a crime.

“He’s allowed to have animals on his ranch, on his sanctuary, and operate his business at this time,” Honsal said.

About 50 dogs remain on the property, along with cats and birds, Honsal said. Animal control staff are visiting three times a week, and a veterinarian is visiting once a week. Honsal said some animals are underweight but that they are being monitored.

The investigation began after the sheriff’s office received “credible information” on April 22 regarding allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy tied to the rescue, according to the agency’s news release. Investigators first searched the rescue on May 1 and seized evidence. Since then, the sheriff’s office said investigators have interviewed dozens of animal shelters across California and outside the state, as well as “witnesses and victims,” while receiving hundreds of tips.

On Tuesday, Honsal said investigators were searching for deceased animals and any business records tied to alleged fraud and animal cruelty. The sheriff’s office is working with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, the California Attorney General’s Office, the California Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Cal Poly Humboldt anthropology staff, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and private forensic veterinarians are helping with the excavation.

Honsal said investigators used ground-penetrating radar and found several disturbed areas in the soil. By Tuesday afternoon, crews had begun excavating two locations. In one, investigators found a horse. In another, they found what appeared to be a smaller dead animal, roughly the size of a dog.

“The idea is, once we identify the animal in the hole, then we will have our forensic veterinarians take the animal out and do essentially an autopsy at the scene,” Honsal said.

The animals will be documented, scanned for microchips, examined by veterinarians and stored as evidence, Honsal said. Investigators also had a refrigerated truck on-site.

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In a since-deleted Facebook post, Miranda denied some of the claims circulating about the rescue.

“Many of you, like me, have been appalled by allegations we’ve read in the media and online,” Miranda wrote. “… A legal process is now underway to sort the facts from the lies, and I’m asking you to please hold fire until that process works its way through.”

SFGATE reached out to Miranda for comment but did not hear back before the time of publication. 

Neighbor Jennifer Raymond, who has helped push for answers in the case, told SFGATE on Wednesday that she was relieved to see the investigation escalate after weeks of silence.

“We just really didn’t know what was happening,” Raymond said. “Yesterday was an affirmation that yes, indeed there is a very serious investigation that involves federal agencies, as well as state agencies, as well as our local law enforcement.”

Raymond said she remains worried about the animals still on the property.

“That is what we will continue protesting about,” she said. “These are living beings, and the fact that the ones that have been pulled out of there by a number of the shelters have been in very poor physical condition leads to significant cause for concern about the animals that are still there.” Raymond said she plans to attend a vigil Saturday and address the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

She also said the sheriff’s estimate of hundreds of missing animals matched what advocates had feared after reviewing public records from shelters that sent animals to Miranda’s Rescue.

According to a search warrant affidavit reviewed by SFGATE, investigators previously uncovered evidence of at least eight dead dogs. In the document, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detective Julian Aguilera wrote that he believed Miranda “murdered these dogs” to financially benefit from taking in additional shelter animals.

Authorities have said the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.