Identification of Decades-Old Remains Near Arizona-Nevada Border

Nearly half a century ago, hikers came across human remains in a superficial burial site near a lake along the Arizona-Nevada boundary. These remains have now been identified.

The individual was identified as Luis Alonso Paredes, originally from El Salvador. At the time of his demise, he might have resided or been employed in the vicinity of Las Vegas, as per the announcement from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

The discovery of the remains occurred on November 23, 1976. They were found in a desert region in the northwestern part of Arizona, situated just to the east of Lake Mohave.

The sheriff’s office detailed that an initial post-mortem examination indicated that the man was probably in his early to mid-thirties and had succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head at a close range. Although fingerprints were collected during the autopsy, the investigation eventually stalled, leaving the man’s identity unknown for nearly five decades.

On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office disclosed in a press release that they resumed the investigation in October. This involved comparing the gathered fingerprints with extensive fingerprint databases, which ultimately led to this significant identification.

However, the search for any living relatives of Paredes continues. It is believed that he may have worked for the U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy in the San Francisco area around ten years prior to his passing.

The sheriff’s office is reaching out to the public for any information related to the case or assistance in locating Paredes’s relatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Arizona-Nevada unidentified remains

More about Arizona-Nevada unidentified remains

• Mohave County Sheriff’s Office
• Lake Mohave Discovery History
• Cold Cases in Arizona
• U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Employment Records
• El Salvadoran Diaspora in the U.S.