Shark killed CA woman who was swimming in Monterey Bay, sheriff confirms

A Monterey County resident who went missing while swimming off Pacific Grove last month was killed in a shark attack, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday.

Erica Fox, 55, a member of the Kelp Krawlers swimming group, was reported missing off of Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on the afternoon of Dec. 21, according to the city of Monterey and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The agencies said two witnesses reported that Fox may have encountered a shark off the shore while swimming, but a shark attack had not been confirmed.

About one week later on Dec. 27 on the other side of Monterey Bay, firefighters recovered Fox’s body from the ocean south of Davenport Beach near Santa Cruz, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has determined the cause of death to be sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack,” a news release from the Sheriff’s Office said.

The fatal shark attack was the first in that location in 73 years. The last fatal shark attack at Lovers Point killed a swimmer on Dec. 7, 1952, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The coroner’s office ruled Fox’s death an accident.

“The Sheriff’s Office once again extends its deepest condolences to Erica Fox’s family and friends during this difficult time,” the release said.