Hiker dies months after suffering ‘life-altering’ injuries in NorCal forest attack

The target of an attack in the Arcata Community Forest has died months after being left with “life-altering” injuries, according to a post from his family’s GoFundMe.

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William Spenceley died Monday according to a post from his family, about eight months after he suffered head injuries.

“He now requires 24-hour care,” Christine Peter wrote on the family’s GoFundMe the day before his death. “He is unable to speak, receives nutrition through a feeding tube, and is in bed around the clock. Yet when we look into his eyes, we still see our Bill fighting with everything he has. Watching him struggle is heartbreaking for all of us.”

While Spenceley was finally able to return home for a week shortly before his death, his family wrote he had trouble breathing and again had to be hospitalized. Spenceley died the morning Oct. 5, according to his family.

“It is with extreme sadness and broken hearts that we share that Bill lost his battle this morning. We find comfort in knowing that he is now at peace and no longer suffering,” the family wrote. 

Spenceley, 75, was a fixture in Arcata and worked at the Humboldt Community Access and Resource Center for 34 years. 

He was out for a walk in the Arcata Community Forest on Jan. 30 when he was attacked. He was later found with severe head injuries and airlifted to a hospital for treatment, according to the Lost Coast Outpost.

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Shawn Kolpak, 52, was arrested one day later and has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated mayhem in connection with the attack, according to court records.The suspect also faces additional charge enhancements for allegedly attacking a person over 70, and for allegedly causing the Spenceley to become “comatose due to brain injury or to suffer paralysis of a permanent nature.”

In a preliminary hearing, the prosecution accused Kolpak of attacking Spenceley with his fists after being angered by Spenceley stacking sticks along the trail, according to a report by the Lost Coast Outpost. Kolpak has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court records. 

Kolpak remains held without bond in Humboldt County Jail awaiting trail. 

In an emailed statement to SFGATE, Humboldt County District Attorney Stacey Eads said at this point, officials have not decided whether additional charges against Kolpak are warranted after Spenceley’s death.

“No new charges have been filed yet as there is ongoing investigation,” she wrote in an email. “We are awaiting additional information before we can decide what, if any, additional charges should be filed.”

Kolpak’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16.