Body found near Ocotillo remains unidentified
OCOTILLO — A body found in an advanced state of decomposition on Jan. 21 in an area northeast of here has yet to be identified, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.
At this point, it hasn’t even been determined whether the body is that of a male or a female. Delaying the process is a combination of how decomposed the body is, and the fact no identification was found at the scene, ICSO Chief Deputy Robert Benavidez explained.
The person appears to have been dead anywhere from one to several months, Benavidaz said.
The body was found buried except for a leg. It was discovered near the shoulder of an unnamed, unmarked road that goes from West Evan Hewes Highway to Shell Canyon Road.
This road is typically used by semi- trucks. The area, in general, is mostly rocks, brush and dirt hills frequented by off- highway vehicles. Some wind turbines stand a few miles out.
A male caller reported finding the body to 911 about 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 21. He said he believed he found a piece of a leg, from above the knee to the toes.
As there is no exact address for the road, the ICSO dispatch center used coordinates from where the call was made to determine where the body was.
ICSO deputies responded to the scene, and found the leg and the rest of the body. The Coroner Office then responded and retrieved the corpse.
No further evidence was located on scene to determine more about the person or cause of death, Benavidez said.
He said the death is being considered suspicious until more information is gathered.
An autopsy for the body took place Wednesday. Samples for a rapid DNA test were taken in an attempt to obtain an identity.
Benavidez said results of the autopsy and toxicology tests could take two to four weeks.