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Remains of third person found

Man also believed to be an illegal immigrant

By Julie Ann Marra
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 - 05:34:53 am MST

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SIERRA VISTA — For the third time in four days, the corpse of a suspected illegal immigrant has been found in Cochise County.

The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was told of a man’s body being found near South Coronado Memorial Road at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The U.S. Border Patrol said it had units in the area when the body was located, which was 4 1/2 miles from Highway 92, approximately 4,000 feet north of the border, said Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Carol Capas.

The man was wearing blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a blue shirt. Capas said an age could not be determined because of the advanced state of decomposition. The man had no identification on him, and there were no signs of foul play.

Cochise County Search and Rescue responded to the area after daylight to transport the body safely to the Cochise County Medical Examiner’s Officer for an autopsy to determine the date and cause of death.

Oscar de la Torre, the Mexican consul in Douglas, said his office is cooperating with Cochise County authorities to establish the identities of the dead people.

“We don’t know yet who they are, or what their names are, or anything like that, but we are working to find out,” he said Tuesday.

The Mexican Consulate will assist in the identification process and notify any next of kin, if possible.

Two bodies were found over the weekend in different rural areas, and both also were taken to the Cochise County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Foul play is not suspected in either case, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

At around 8 p.m. Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office was advised that U.S. Border Patrol agents had found the remains of a human in the hills east of the Gold Gulch area between Bisbee and Douglas.

The person had been dead for some time, and authorities believed it was a woman.

Two Border Patrol agents had been tracking a group of illegal immigrants when they came upon the body in a remote area north of a road.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office was told of a dead body found by two hikers at mile post 3.9 on High Lonesome Road near Bisbee.

The body was in the beginning stages of decomposition, and deputies determined it was a man.

The remains of at least four illegal immigrants have been found in Cochise County this summer.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Julie Ann Marra can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at julieann.marra@svherald.com. Herald/Review reporter Jonathon Shacat contributed to this report.

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Comments appear once they are approved. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

Insane wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:13 AM:

" Not one thoughtful contribution from these comments. Calling BP/ICE is not your only option. Reporting the employers, boycotting their products, picketing outside their establishments, drawing attention to the Department of Labor and IRS would be a better way of putting your words into action rather then trashing the dead. DOL/IRS are always interested in employers who may not being paying up according to the law and will act quickly to verify. Stop them from being hired, then you can concentrate more on the drug runners. Lip service vs action? Take action. Waiting for a candidate to do it for you? "

first svian wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:48 AM:

" J Clarke, not talking about the ambiance (????) but am pointing out that there are PLENTY PLENTY LEGAL immigrants willing to do those jobs so they can become Americans...not remain illegals and maintain being Mexican for several generations...not living off the system...and you bring up ambiance. hmmmm "

J. Clarke wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:49 AM:

" first svian - I am not defending anyone, particularly the act of illegal immigration. Am stating what I perceive to be the facts, just as you presumably think you are. I have worked in meat packing plants, so I am familiar with that ambiance. "

first svian wrote on Aug 22, 2008 6:10 AM:

" J. Clarke, while you may be correct that most Americans will not do some of that work, there are many many LEGAL immigrants that will,(see story about meat packing plant in Iowa) therefore, we do NOT need nor want the illegals in this country, ...you can defend them all you want, but those are facts. "

J. Clarke wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:38 PM:

" To American. True, nothing says the posters are Christians, but I believe that's a fair conclusion. No doubt, I hit a nerve. It is a priviledge for me to inject/"instigate" as you put it, any discourse I may choose (whether it is printed is an entirely separate matter). Most resident Americans will not perform the jobs which illegal immigrants do and it's not all a matter of money, don't fool yourself. That's just an excuse. "

Again wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:23 PM:

" How much does this cost (autopsy, disposal or return to home country, etc.?) Surely some reporter has thought to ask this basic question? "

American wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:21 AM:

" To J. Clarke : Where did you see printed that these posters are Christians? Stick to the facts. Dont instigate.
Its not that Americans dont want the jobs Illegals work for slave wages, whereas Americans wont put up with that. Shames on all you greedy slave drivers that keep polluting our community by hiring these illegals. Have some pride and dignity in your country! "

Assumptions wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:47 AM:

" How can you be sure the person was illegal without trying to identify them? How can you be sure there was no serious diease or foul play without an autopsy? It sucks that we have to pay these costs, but that is the price we pay to live in a civilized society. After all, in advanced stages of decomposition, it could be someone you know. "

Now you got it wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:22 AM:

" That's my point, Brian. Why waste money when it does little good. An autopsy does little good in this case. They are obviously pretty certain it was someone here illegally, so why bother? I'll tell them how he died for free: exposure or someone offed him, both would be results of his own illegal activities. As I said, stop wasting money on people who die or get hurt as a result of their own illegal behavior. "

curious wrote on Aug 14, 2008 8:03 PM:

" Maybe it's the fence!?!?!?! They can't get back home to get food and water. Here we all are concerned about birds, deer, skunks and such and people are running back and forth trying to get back into mexico. Who would have thought! "

Brian wrote on Aug 14, 2008 2:14 PM:

" Maybe if we established, with fact, that infectious diseases are being introduced into this country via illegals, we can pressure to delcare a health emergency, get FEMA in here and really let the feds have control. What better way to get more of the taxpayers money than to do something that appears to be for the benefit of said citizenry yet in reality does little but waste money? And since FEMA will be here, and they don't enforce laws, the illegals can get thier free health check and sack lunch as they pass thru. "

To Frank... wrote on Aug 14, 2008 8:48 AM:

" They drive down the economy, trash our land, and are breaking the law. Plain and simple. As far as going after the people who hire them. Doing everything I can to help ICE and BP with all info I have available. What are you doing to help? "

to Brian wrote on Aug 14, 2008 8:09 AM:

" I don't really care if this guy died of some disease, he didn't make it very far, did he? If we're concerned about that, and clearly no one cares, we'd do blood tests on those thousands we catch and send back or just ignore. Some deteriorated body isn't going to be much of a threat and if he had something, others with him have it and are spreading it. It's those others I'm concerned about. "

HC Resident wrote on Aug 14, 2008 7:09 AM:

" PUT UP THE FENCE!!! "

desert resident wrote on Aug 14, 2008 6:13 AM:

" Do any of you realize what it costs for the medical care of those that are found alive, but very ill? I work in a hospital in Tucson, and we have had several (not all at the same time)that ended up coming to our ICU, are are vents for up to weeks at a time AND if they make it, they go to a floor unit before being sent back to the border!! The daily cost of medical care is staggering!!!!! And we're paying for it. "

J. Clarke wrote on Aug 13, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Sadly, most of the people commenting here consider themselves Christians. Everyone agrees that the problem of illegal immigration must be remedied. However, that responsibility belongs to the federal government and thus far they have failed. The bigoted commentary displayed here does little to advance that end. "

Brian Brian wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:18 PM:

" You think we should have autopsies so we know if they didn't bring a disease into the US? About 20 million made it, without vacanations, or health checks. The AZ border is not Ellis Island. "

to imposter old cheyenne wrote on Aug 13, 2008 7:24 PM:

" Why dont you set up and maintain the water points if you want them so much? At least you quit the report to deport. "

Mike S wrote on Aug 13, 2008 1:55 PM:

" Ok, So say I dont like a particular hispanic person, I could just drag them out in the desert, strangle them,, and take their ID.But yeah, It sure would be nice if your gonna die in our deserts, bring your name tag "Hello, Im Paco" "

I AGREE wrote on Aug 13, 2008 11:13 AM:

" To WHY, FOOD FOR THOUGHT and TO ALL ILLEGALS. I totally agree with all your comments. They make perfect sense. This is getting to be so sickening with paying the ME for autopsies that don't make any difference either way. These people are dead and it's their own fault! Whether they died from exposure or from a stupid "coyote" it should not be our responsibility to even take them out of the desert. Call MEXICO and tell them to come and pick up their own packages! "

AzLuna wrote on Aug 13, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Even in death illegal aliens cost this country money....Pima County had to build a special facility just to store the many unidentified suspected illegal aliens remains and personal belongings that have died over the years. Again, causing more expenses...I don't know what is so hard about coming in legally except the wait. But, if we can wait for the Govt. to get something done, so can they! REPORT TO DEPORT!---RAIA--- RIP B.Y. "

Brian wrote on Aug 13, 2008 10:58 AM:

" "Why": Wouldn't you like to know if this guy died from tuberculousis, or ebola, or the plague? They could have been carries of some infectious disease, and I'd like to know if there is a danger. Chances are they died from exposure, but I'd like to here some confirmation. And still no one see a problem with assuming thier national identity. Why assume they are Mexicans? If we can use this assumptive process for border crossings why not use same for other crimes? "

Frank wrote on Aug 13, 2008 9:19 AM:

" To - "To all illegals" Yeah right, the illegals will be reading this site and heeding your advise. Sheer lunacy! They obviously are wanted in America, why else would they be coming? You should direct your wrath at those who are hiring them, as they appear to be hiring them because they work cheaper and harder than legal American residents. "

Do it the right way wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:50 AM:

" I cannot believe how many of these illegals are coming over our borders! And the money spent by tax payers to deal with it is insane! They get free and fast medical treatment if they get into trouble while we have to pay big time and waite for any medical that we need. Very wrong....... "

Old Cheyenne wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:04 AM:

" This is why we at least have to set up some waterpoints around the area so at least no one dies of thirst. "

Why wrote on Aug 13, 2008 7:16 AM:

" Why do they bother with an autopsy in these cases? We know the guy wouldn't have died there if he weren't doing something illegal. As far as I'm concerned, when one is engaging in illegal activities that directly result in one's own death, regardless of if it's from nature or from man, then you really deserve what you get and there's no point in wasting money dealing with the situation. Seriously, what is the purpose of an investigation? And this goes for any criminals, whether or not they are citizens. "

Food for thought wrote on Aug 13, 2008 6:39 AM:

" Since our stupid government insists on identifying the bodies, and the corrupt Mexican government condones booklets showing illegals how to cross into the USA without getting caught. Perhaps we should publish the pictures (in poster form) of those who didn't make it and post them along the border with the caption, "Live longer: stay home!" and "Carry ID so funds aren't wasted trying to figure out who you were!" "

To all illegals... wrote on Aug 13, 2008 6:33 AM:

" Stay home and live. You are not wanted in America, stay in Mexico if you want to survive. "

Way to transport wrote on Aug 13, 2008 5:44 AM:

" I am glad that Cochise County Search and Rescue responded to the area after daylight to transport the body safely to the Cochise County Medical Officer. "