Woman Dies at SoCal Jazz Festival Amid Heat Wave, Family Reveals Double Tragedy
Shari Sanders collapsed and died at a sweltering festival, just months after losing her home to wildfires and rebuilding.
A Southern California woman who died at a jazz festival on October 3 had recently rebuilt her home after it was destroyed in the January 2025 wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles.
Shari Sanders, of Altadena, was found unconscious and unresponsive in the VIP section of Carson’s Anderson Memorial Park as temperatures climbed into the triple digits. A doctor at the festival attempted CPR for 20 minutes, but Sanders could not be revived.
Her family revealed that Sanders had spent over a year reconstructing her life after the Eaton Fire destroyed the home she had lived in for 35 years. The blaze, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, swept through Altadena shortly after the Palisades Fire impacted other areas of Los Angeles, destroying thousands of residences.
According to a GoFundMe message, Sanders had only recently moved back into her rebuilt home when the tragedy occurred. "Her house was only recently finished, and she did not get to enjoy it for a month," the message stated. The family described Sanders as a "glue" figure, a mother of three sons, a grandmother of eight, and someone who also helped raise nieces and nephews.
The circumstances surrounding her death have drawn criticism, notably from percussionist Sheila E., who performed at the event. Sheila E. expressed dismay that the festival continued after Sanders' death. "Production, whoever, the city, the mayor was there. All of you guys should have stopped the festival," she said in an Instagram video. "And I’m so sorry that I played because I would not have gotten onstage knowing that she was still there."
Sheila E. stated she was aware someone had died but did not realize the body was still at the venue during her performance. She also questioned the festival's preparedness for the extreme heat, noting, "The devastating part is she passed away, and we heard that … there was only one water station, which was unfortunate because there was just not enough water for everyone."
Sanders' family told KTLA that they believe her death was heat-related, stating she had no prior medical history. Her body was reportedly covered until it was removed around 5 p.m., approximately 30 minutes after Sheila E. concluded her set.
A spokesperson for the city of Carson informed KTLA that officials are reviewing the circumstances of Sanders' death and cooperating with relevant authorities. The official cause of Sanders' death is currently under investigation.