Eric Eugene Card Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in Siskiyou County
- Rex Ballard
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
How Investigators Overcame the Challenges of a No-Body Case in the 2019 Killing of Redding Mother Danielle Renee Bisnell
Nearly seven years after her disappearance, a Siskiyou County jury convicts a Chico man despite no remains being recovered. Sentencing set for August 18, 2026.
A Siskiyou County jury has convicted Eric Eugene Card of second-degree murder in the 2019 killing of Redding resident Danielle Renee Bisnell, delivering justice in a case that presented some of the most difficult challenges in criminal law: proving murder when the victim’s body was never recovered.
On July 9, 2026, after a lengthy trial, the jury found Card, 67, of Chico, guilty of second-degree murder. Bisnell, a young mother, disappeared on December 8, 2019, after being last seen at a 7-Eleven on Eureka Way in Redding. Her remains have never been found. Card is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2026, and faces 15 years to life in state prison.
The Disappearance and Investigation
Bisnell’s boyfriend reported her missing after she failed to return home. Investigators determined she had encountered Card at the convenience store. Card convinced her to travel with him, initially saying he would return her in time for her young son’s seventh birthday. She was never seen again.
Redding Police Department led a multi-year, multi-state investigation that eventually involved the FBI and agencies in Oregon. Evidence indicated the murder occurred in Siskiyou County on or around December 10, 2019. Card was arrested on October 10, 2023, at his home in Chico and booked into Siskiyou County Jail.
The case was prosecuted in Siskiyou County Superior Court by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Whetstine in close partnership with Redding Police.
The Legal Challenges of “No-Body” Murder Cases
Murder prosecutions without a recovered body are among the most difficult cases in the criminal justice system. They require prosecutors to prove two core elements — known as the corpus delicti — without the most direct evidence possible:
That the victim is dead, and
That the death was caused by criminal means.
Key challenges include:
Proving death occurred when there is no body, autopsy, or visual confirmation. Investigators must show the victim’s life simply stopped — no further contact with loved ones, no financial activity, no digital footprint after a certain date.
Proving the defendant caused the death through circumstantial evidence alone.
Overcoming jury skepticism. Many people instinctively think “no body, no crime,” giving defense attorneys a powerful narrative to exploit.
Forensic limitations. Attempts to clean up evidence (such as the use of bleach) can destroy DNA and other biological traces.
High appellate scrutiny. These convictions are often appealed on the grounds that the evidence was insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Resource demands. Cases frequently require years of persistent investigation across multiple jurisdictions.
Modern tools have made successful prosecutions more achievable. Cell phone records, surveillance video, forensic blood evidence, and specially trained decomposition-detection dogs can create a compelling web of circumstantial proof.
How Investigators Overcame Those Challenges in This Case
In the Bisnell case, prosecutors built their case on several layers of evidence that addressed the classic difficulties of a no-body prosecution:
Digital and surveillance evidence placed Card with Bisnell and tracked her movements after her disappearance.
Forensic blood evidence was recovered from Card’s van.
A decomposition-detection dog alerted to areas inside the vehicle where there was also a strong bleach odor and signs of bleached carpet — consistent with an attempt to clean up after a body had been present.
Behavioral and pattern evidence showed Card’s alleged history of targeting vulnerable women near gas stations or convenience stores.
Redding Police noted that the investigation was carried forward over the years by multiple detectives. The jury ultimately concluded that the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Bisnell was dead and that Card caused her death with implied malice.
Redding Police Department stated after the verdict:
“The Redding Police Department is honored to have worked diligently in partnership with the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office to help bring justice for Ms. Bisnell’s loved ones.”
Local Significance
For the Redding and broader Shasta County community, the conviction represents years of dedicated work by local law enforcement in one of the most challenging types of cases. It demonstrates that even without physical remains, persistent investigation combined with modern forensic and digital evidence can result in accountability.
Anyone with information about possible similar encounters with Eric Eugene Card is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Detective Division at 530-225-4214.
