Imagine that you had been convicted of a crime that you didn’t commit. Imagine that the crime was MURDER and you were eighteen months in on a life sentence without parole. You would know that the real killer was still on the loose. You would know that you don’t belong in that prison. You would be outraged for suffering such a miscarriage of justice, wouldn’t you?

Now, imagine that you were the one who was murdered and your spirit had been trapped in a prison between worlds. This is how it is for Tavia. She wants desperately to escape the cold, dark cell where she has been living since the Bad Man murdered her but she cannot break the locks on her own. She’s sending out this message in hopes that it will reach the right people and encourage them to keep fighting for Justice on her behalf.

View from the front of Lifehouse Church. (Photo/North Coast News)

“Deputies arrived on scene at 8:25 p.m. and the last unit cleared from the call at 1:10 a.m. However, several follow-up investigations have been conducted as a result of this case. I am unable to provide a comprehensive amount of total time spent on this investigation,” the HCSO said on Aug. 31.

Witnesses at the scene described to the family how they said Metzger’s body was positioned. They said Metzger’s head was under the bumper by the wheel on the right side with her legs sticking about 18 inches out on the left side of the van. The van is nearly one foot away from the gate in front of it.

(Photo/North Coast News)

Metzger was found under this van that has been sitting in the parking lot of Lifehouse Church in McKinleyville. Witnesses said Metzger’s head was by the right wheel with her legs sticking about 18 inches out on the left side.

“Upon further investigation, no evidence of foul play was located on scene,” Karges said on Aug. 19. “This death is not considered suspicious at this time, however, the case is still under investigation.”

Several days later on Aug, 31, the HCSO released new details to North Coast News after the family gave permission for them to do so.

“Ms. Metzger’s cause of death was determined to be Methamphetamine toxicity,” the HCSO said on Aug. 31. “The forensic pathologist’s conclusions are that Ms. Metzger died as a result of Methamphetamine toxicity/overdose with comorbid hypertensive heart disease.”

But, loved ones said there was a strange series of events that took place before Metzger’s death.

A Justice for Tavia sign in front of Lifehouse Church in McKinleyville. (Photo/North Coast News)

According to the Sheriff’s Office, several residents reported seeing Metzger on Lime Avenue in McKinleyville, less than one hour prior to deputies being dispatched to the area, finding her deceased. Officials said the call was about a woman yelling and rolling around on a dirt/gravel road.

Those who were closest to Metzger spent hours, days in the area, trying to put together the pieces because they believe something else happened. After knocking on many doors, family members said residents around the area where Metzger’s body was found told them they “heard a woman yelling as if she was trying to get away.”

“She was a kind, caring vibrant young lady,” Metzger’s mother said.

Tavia Starrella Metzger (Photo/Metzger’s Family)

When loved ones went to confirm Metzger’s identity, they said she had bruising on her face. They also said they found Metzger’s belongings scattered throughout the area, like her makeup bag and phone. They said they turned those items into the HCSO.

“Deputies did respond to the Lime Avenue location and collected belonging of Ms. Metzger, however, there are no indications of this being criminal,” the HCSO said on Aug. 31.

“She would never go anywhere without her makeup,” the family emphasized. “Even if she was high, she would never leave without it.”

North Coast News asked the HCSO if the bruising to Metzger’s face was taken into consideration.

“Ms. Metzger did have superficial bruising and abrasions to the face and head. They were not found to be a contributing factor in her cause of death. According to our forensic pathologist, the premortem blunt force trauma was non-lethal, and is consistent with having occurred as a result of events associated with a toxic state of severe psychomotor agitation, delirium, due to Methamphetamine toxicity,” the HCSO said on Aug. 31.

The HCSO said they also wanted to point out the alleged spotting of Metzger on Lime Avenue, who they said was about a woman yelling and rolling around on a dirt/gravel road.

“The woman in the call matched the description of Ms. Metzger and would explain some of the superficial bruising,” the sheriff’s office explained.

But family believes what they saw did not appear to be self-inflicted or superficial.

“She was a beautiful soul, she was a daughter, a best friend to many, she had a heart of gold. We deserve to know what happened, she deserves it,” Metzger’s mother said.

Tavia and her niece. (Photo/Metzger’s Family)

Loved ones told North Coast News that Metzger had been on a rollercoaster her whole life battling drug addiction, alcoholism and at one time homelessness — but they said that should not define her. Family wants the community to know that their Tavia is still a human being, and that’s how they want her remembered.

“We want people to know that there’s more to her than that, it’s a moment in her life,” Metzger’s long-time friend who flew to Humboldt from Montana said. “She’s been by best friend for 13 years, the only friend I would go to bat for.”

(Photo/Metzger’s Family)

North Coast News asked the sheriff’s office why such a case wouldn’t be considered suspicious given the way her body was found and input from the family.

“Yes, it is suspicious for a young female to be found deceased under a van, and it was investigated as such. However, upon further investigation all evidence and witness statements, including that which was found on scene and reports from earlier in the day elsewhere, deputies found no evidence of Ms. Metzger’s death being caused by criminal action. An autopsy and toxicology of Ms. Metzger confirms that evidence,” the HCSO said on Aug. 31.

Metzger’s loved ones sent us the following statement in response:

After finding out what the coroner has determined to be cause of death it has been a whirl wind of emotions. We have speculated from the beginning that this would be the outcome, but we also know who Tavia was as a person. Tavia deserves a thorough investigation. Unfortunately that isn’t happening. Family seen for themselves the so called “superficial bruising and abrasions” on her face “caused from walking and rolling around on a dirt road”. Family agrees that what was seen was not self caused and was not “superficial” either. We feel there are other aspects to this case not being taken into consideration. We feel there were findings in the autopsy being over looked and not questioned. Family also has reason to believe that the way the drugs were administered into Tavia’s system needs to be investigated as well. There is more to this story and we are asking if anyone knows anything to please come forward. The police may not care, but our family needs closure. We need to know what events lead up to when Tavia was found. Tavia wasn’t just my bestfriend she was my family. I need to know what happened that day, we all need to know. We won’t stop looking for closure until ALL of our questions are answered. There’s too many pieces to this puzzle missing to just say case closed.

(Photo/Metzger’s Family)

“The case is not yet closed,” the HCSO said on Sep. 2.