Reconstruction of the decedent by Sherry O'Deen; images of clothing; close ups of belt buckle and shirt logo. To view a postmortem photograph, please click here (note: the subject did not have a gap between his front teeth; the space visible is the result of postmortem tooth loss).
Date of Discovery: May 23, 2001
Location of Discovery: Yuma County, Arizona
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Exposure
Estimated Age: 25-45 years old
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 112 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Available. Available. His right front tooth had a significant cavity. One molar is missing antemortem. Missing front tooth lost postmortem.
Fingerprints: Available.
X-Rays: Available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing: Green short sleeved t-shirt with a Pacific logo. Black Wrangler jeans, size 31x30 and a brown belt with a white buckle of a horse head. Black sneakers, Starter brand, size 6.5. Tan socks.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Adult comic strip clippings in pocket.
Investigators believe the decedent was a guide who crossed the U.S./Mexico border near Lukeville on May 19, 2001, with a group of 28 Mexican migrants.
After walking more than 30 miles over four days, the man succumbed to the triple-digit heat. He succumbed to desert elements around May 23, 2001. 14 members of the group also died.
The man was known as "Lauro" to the group.
Others with him who survived said they never knew his last name and were no help in dentifying him. One guide who set out with the group, a man named "Santos," turned back toward Mexico after two days, leading two crossers safely back. Authorities are looking for Santos as a possible means to identify Lauro.
Agency Name: Yuma County Medical Examiner
Agency Contact Person: Bruce Anderson
Agency Phone Number: 520-724-8600 or 928-336-7019
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: ML01-3013
NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 6647
NamUs
Tucson Citizen
Added: Prior to 2009; Last Updated: 4/14/19
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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