Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Sheriff Confirms Likely Suicide in Death of Healdsburg Woman

Ann Bigham, co-owner of Powell Avenue Market, found dead in Ukiah hotel room, friend said.

 NOTE: This article was updated several times on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.

Mendocino County authorities said Thursday they were treating the death of a Healdsburg woman in a Ukiah hotel room as a suicide.

"We have no reason to believe that it was at the hands of another," said Mendocino Sheriff's Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the death of

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Bigham was found dead Tuesday afternoon by a maid at the Regency Inn in Ukiah, Smallcomb said. He confirmed earlier reports that Bigham had taken an overdose of some type of pills, but said the exact type of medication won't be known until toxicology reports come back in a couple weeks, he said

"At that point, we'll forward the results to the lead agency, the Ukiah Police Department," Smallcomb said.

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Ed Ebersole, owner of Ebersole's Mortuary in Ukiah, said a doctor would be signing the death certificate later today and that cremation would take place likely over the weekend or on Monday. Ebersole said he was not aware that a memorial service had been scheduled yet.

Bigham had been missing since Sunday, according to friend and employer Melanie Gentry, owner of the Healdsburg payroll management firm CESolution, LLC.

"She was one of the most wonderful, giving people I have ever known," Gentry said. "She will be thoroughly missed."

Bigham's friend and employer Lucy Lewand, owner of Healdsburg's said Bigham became despondent after she and her husband Rob purchased the Powell Avenue Market last summer.

"The store was her dream," Lewand said. "And it didn't work out to be what she expected."

, Bigham, who was in charge of daily operations while her husband managed the finances, "never went back," Lewand said.

Lewand employed Bigham as her innkeeper for 4 1/2 years from 2006 to the end of 2009.

"I can't tell you, it's just so horrible," Lewand said. Bigham, in her early 40s, was born and raised in Healdsburg and lived here all her life.

She didn't have her own children, according to Lewand, but she was godmother to her friends' children, including the granddaughter of a Healdsburg man who was killed in early November when his pickup truck drove off Stewarts Point-Skaggs Spring Road and fell into a ravine.

"She took that really hard," Lewand said.

Bigham, a "beautiful, kind and generous person," was caught under intolerable pressure -- both at home and at work, Gentry said.

"She just worked herself so hard, and her family life was deteriorating at the same time," said Gentry, who employed Bigham as an "awesome" payroll technician from 2000 to about 2005, and again within the past month. "The two (pressures) collided and we couldn't get her back."

Gentry said Bigham had recently separated from her husband and was trying to put her life back on track. Bigham had returned to work for Gentry, but she also  wanted to make sure Powell Street Market was put "in good hands," Gentry said.

"She (Bigham) really loved Powell Avenue Market and she loved its identity as a corner store," Gentry said. "But it just wasn't something she eventually found was good for her."

Gentry's business partner Kendra Burgess was living with Bigham to help her during the transition, Gentry said.

Healdsburg Patch columnist who wrote two stories last year about the said he stopped by the store last month after a neighbor sent an email to Healdsburg Patch asking what was wrong at the market.

Neighbor Linda Murphy, in a Dec. 2 email to Patch, asked whether something was wrong because the store "has been closed more times than it was open since its grand opening in October," Murphy said.

Murphy said she stopped by and there was a sign on the door saying the market would reopen Dec. 5.

Kallen said staff members at the market told him there were some problems, but they didn't elaborate. He said he saw Bigham at the store one other time and she was wearing a bandage and appeared to be injured, he said.

Powell Avenue Market was at one time called "The Little Store," according to Kallen's According to comments posted on Patch, many residents had fond memories of "The Little Store."

"Good memories Ann," posted Linda Watts. "It was when we were young and could go to a store by ourselves without adults and we knew we were safe. Then going back to your house and listening to the Grease soundtrack :)."

Healdsburg Patch audio blogger posted a similar remark.

"I can't think of a better person to take over that little landmark," Anderson posted in the comments on the  August story. "Both the store and Ann are treasures. :-)"

Bigham's dream was to bring "The Little Store" back to life, Lewand said.

"She was a very responsible person and took her obligations very seriously," Lewand added. "She didn't like to owe anybody money -- if she even borrowed 25 cents from you, she couldn't stand it."

Bigham loved Healdsburg, Lewand said.

"She was a perfectionist -- but life isn't perfect," she added. "Having your own business is not for everyone."


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