CopaNews.com | Two cases of deceased people found in desert



Front Page News Government Business Education Sports Entertainment Health Phone Book Public Safety Police Reports Pinal County Living Events Community Calendar Religion Opinions Real Estate Hidden Valley More...

home / Public Safety

Two cases of deceased people found in desert
Received from Pinal County Sheriff's Office

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

On July 26th, 2010 at 10:04 P.M., the Pinal County Sheriff's Office received information from a Spanish speaking male that he and his wife were lost in the desert after they had been abandoned by a "coyote." The Pinal County Sheriff's Office -- Communications Division -- was able to provide GPS coordinates from the location of the 9-1-1 call. The location was north of Interstate 8, west of Smith Road, and north of the Central Arizona Canal.

The male subject was located by deputies based on the coordinates provided by dispatchers. His Mexican Voter Identification Card identified him as Jose Daniel Castaneda-Morales (age 25). Jose reported that he and his wife had been in the desert for several days. Jose told deputies that his wife was deceased and he had left a trail of toilet paper, which would lead them to her body. The body of the female (25 years of age) was found approximately 400 yards south of where Jose had been located. It was obvious that the female was in fact deceased.

The body of the deceased female was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death. Jose was treated by medical personnel at the scene for dehydration and then turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

On July 22nd, 2010 at 1:05 P.M., the Pinal County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the U.S. Border Patrol regarding a possible dead body. The U.S. Border Patrol had detained seven suspected illegal immigrants and they reported that a member traveling in their party had fallen behind and was deceased.

Members of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office searched the area the individuals described and were able to locate the deceased body of an adult male subject. The body was found four miles south of Interstate 8 and milepost 149. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, "The southern border of our country needs to be secured for many reasons. These two cases show the human tragedy involved while individuals from Mexico attempt to cross into our great state."