Desert Recovery on the Tohono O'odham Nation (2023)
An unidentified male was found deceased on March 8, 2023, in a remote desert area of the Tohono O'odham Nation in Pima County, Arizona. The remains were discovered by U.S. Border Patrol and are maintained under Pima County Medical Examiner case number 23-0920. As of this writing, the individual has not been identified.[1]
Discovery
The decedent was found on March 8, 2023, in a remote desert area of the Tohono O'odham Nation, a tribal land spanning portions of Pima County, Arizona, and extending toward the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. Border Patrol personnel made the discovery and reported the case to local law enforcement. The Tohono O'odham Nation Police Department (case number 230211015) and the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office (case number 23-0920) assumed jurisdiction.[1]
Description
The decedent was male, estimated between 25 and 50 years of age at the time of death, with an estimated height of 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 6 inches. The remains were recovered as a near-complete or complete skeleton and were not recognizable. Hair color, eye color, and weight could not be determined from the remains. Ethnicity was recorded as uncertain.[1]
A notable dental characteristic was documented: the decedent was missing the lateral lower (mandibular) incisors and may have worn a removable denture.[1]
Clothing and Personal Effects
The following items were recovered near the body:[1]
- A black hoodie bearing the text "Power Circle 90" on the front
- Blue "Leopoldo" brand boxer briefs, size L
- Black "Caterpillar" brand work boots, size 40 (European sizing), noted as likely counterfeit
- A round pink mirror
Investigation
The case is assigned to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office as case 23-0920 and to the Tohono O'odham Nation Police Department as case 230211015. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) on May 19, 2023.[1]
The recovery location on the Tohono O'odham Nation, combined with the clothing items, is consistent with circumstances documented in migrant deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border corridor in southern Arizona. The "Leopoldo" brand boxer briefs and counterfeit Caterpillar boots in European size 40 are consistent with goods commonly distributed in Mexico and Central America. No official determination of national origin has been recorded in the NamUs case file.
No forensic genealogy, DNA upload status, or isotope analysis results have been publicly reported for this case. No missing persons candidates have been publicly identified.
How to Help
Anyone with information about this individual is asked to contact:
Pima County Medical Examiner's Office Case number: 23-0920 Phone: (520) 724-4984
Tohono O'odham Nation Police Department Sells, Arizona Case number: 230211015
This case is listed on NamUs as UP103660: https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/103660
References
- "NamUs Case UP103660." National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. namus.gov