By admin 
An adult woman was found shot to death Sunday inside an Iowa Hill-area home as authorities searched the rugged foothills for an armed man who earlier allegedly rammed a sheriff’s patrol vehicle and fired shots at law enforcement, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Derek Robert Spencer, 44, of Sacramento County. Authorities said investigators believed he killed the woman before fleeing into the dense forest surrounding the off-the-grid Placer County community.
The discovery came as a wildfire also burned in the Iowa Hill area, prompting an evacuation warning Sunday afternoon. Fire officials said the blaze was “likely related” to the manhunt, although they did not say how the fire started or whether Spencer was suspected of starting it.
Tactical teams found the woman while clearing a home where Spencer had been earlier in the search, Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Elise Soviar said in a Sunday evening update.
“At this point in the investigation, it’s believed Spencer murdered the woman before fleeing into the surrounding forest,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities did not immediately identify the woman or provide additional information about her relationship, if any, to Spencer.
The rugged geography added to the challenge facing authorities.
Iowa Hill is a tiny, isolated community of about 50 residents tucked into the steep American River canyon country east of Colfax. Though only about 5 miles from Colfax as the crow flies, the drive takes roughly half an hour along a narrow, winding road that drops to the North Fork of the American River before climbing back into the foothills.
Tactical teams from the El Dorado County and Nevada County sheriff’s offices and the Roseville and Rocklin police departments were assisting in the search. The California Highway Patrol, California State Parks and Grass Valley Police Department also were assisting.
Teams planned to search throughout the night, the Sheriff’s Office said Sunday evening.
Spencer had been arrested three times this month in Sacramento County and was released from jail three days before the Iowa Hill manhunt, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and booking logs.
His first arrest came Sept. 3, when Sacramento County deputies arrested him on suspicion of felony vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and resisting arrest, sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Ed Igoe said. He was arraigned and released on $10,000 bond, according to Sacramento Superior Court records.
Folsom police arrested Spencer on suspicion of burglary Sept. 14, Igoe said, though Folsom watch commander’s log for last Monday does not show the arrest. Two days later, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies arrested him again in connection with a stolen vehicle.
Booking logs showed Spencer was released from jail custody Thursday.
Manhunt began Sunday morning
The confrontation began about 10:30 a.m. after the Sheriff’s Office received a report that a man had pointed a gun at people and threatened them in the Iowa Hill area, Soviar said.
Deputies responded and soon spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, Soviar said.
“That individual actually rammed our deputy’s patrol car, and it was a severe enough collision that the deputy wasn’t able to chase after the suspect in his vehicle,” Soviar said.
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Spencer escaped, prompting a wider law enforcement response and search of the area.
Authorities spotted Spencer again from the air sometime around 2 or 3 p.m., Soviar said.
“The suspect was located from the air with our Falcon 30 helicopter, and the suspect actually started shooting at the helicopter,” Soviar said. “The suspect also shot at some of the deputies in the area.”
The gunfire intensified the law enforcement response as authorities searched the heavily wooded terrain. The Sheriff’s Office described Spencer as armed and “very dangerous.”
“Iowa Hill, that whole area, if you live in that area, stay inside, lock your doors, do not let anybody in,” Soviar said.
The road into Iowa Hill also was closed during the search, she said.
Authorities said Spencer was believed to be wearing a black shirt and had little or no hair and possibly a goatee. Soviar said investigators did not have a more detailed description.
Mineral Fire prompts evacuation warning
Meanwhile, a wildfire nearby complicated the manhunt, with fire crews holding off on suppression efforts because of the danger posed by the active shooter incident, according to the Foresthill Fire Protection District.
The Mineral Fire broke out near Iowa Hill Road and had been mapped at 2 acres by a Cal Fire intelligence aircraft.
Cal Fire and U.S. Forest Service crews staged at the Mineral Bar Campground near the North Fork of the American River but were not moving in to fight the fire because it was burning near the law enforcement operation, the fire district said.
“The fire is closer to Iowa Hill and no suppression efforts are being taken as this is in close proximity and likely related to a serious active shooter incident near Iowa Hill,” the district said.
The fire district did not explain why it believed the fire was likely related to the incident or say whether investigators believed Spencer had started it.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for the Iowa Hill Road area just before 4:30 p.m. because of the blaze. Residents were advised to prepare to leave, gather important belongings and make arrangements for pets in case the warning was upgraded to an evacuation order.
The Iowa Hill area is about 20 miles northeast of Auburn and 34 miles northeast of Roseville.
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The Bee’s Daniel Hunt contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM.