A 24-year-old woman from Sacramento was found shot to death inside a guest room at the Bardessono Hotel and Spa in Yountville on Thursday morning, and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death as "suspicious," authorities said.
Officers responding to a 911 call at 7:20 a.m. discovered the woman, identified on Friday as Ahmyiah Iman Pinkney, inside the luxury resort. The sheriff’s office said in a statement there is no known threat to the public and that more information will be released as it becomes available.
The Bardessono’s general manager, Alain Negueloua, said police were already on the scene after hotel staff were notified of the emergency. A Bardessono spokesperson said the property is cooperating fully with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office and confirmed that one of two guests sharing a room was found deceased.
Pinkney, a recent honors graduate of the University of California, Davis, completed her degree in June 2025, family members said. Her mother, Tashauna Pinkney, told a news outlet she was unsure how many people were in the room with her daughter but said there was at least one other person present.
The Bardessono, a high-end wine-country resort noted for in-suite spa treatments, a farm-to-table restaurant and rooftop pools, has remained open since the discovery. Rooms at the property are advertised starting at about $1,000 a night. The hotel has been featured in travel publications, and its management declined further comment beyond confirming cooperation with investigators.
Napa County law enforcement did not release additional details about the circumstances of the shooting, the identity or status of any potential suspect, or whether anyone has been taken into custody. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to come forward and said it would provide updates as the investigation continues.
Local authorities usually withhold certain information early in suspicious-death investigations while they work to confirm identity, determine a timeline and notify next of kin. Police and coroner procedures can also delay public release of medical and forensic findings.
The incident prompted heightened attention in the Yountville community, a town in the heart of California’s wine country that draws tourists to its culinary and hospitality offerings. Investigators did not indicate a motive or provide a timeline beyond the morning emergency call. Napa County officials said there is no known ongoing danger to the public related to this case.