SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The final two victims found in the Mojave Desert have been identified as Adrian Ochoa-Salgado, 41, and Narcisco Sandoval, 47. Their bodies were among six discovered in the middle of a remote dirt crossroads last month. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had asked for the public’s help in identifying the victims and thanked the community for their assistance in the efforts to identify Ochoa-Salgado.
The other four victims were identified as Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, 34, of Adelanto; Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, of Hesperia; Kevin Dariel Bonilla, 25, of Hesperia, and Jose Ruelas-Calderon, 45, of El Mirage. Calderon left behind eight children in Mexico.
The bodies were discovered on January 23 just outside El Mirage after a 911 call reporting a shooting. According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Warrick, all the victims were likely shot to death, and four of the bodies had been partially burned together. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a possible dispute over marijuana.
Authorities believe that the area where the bodies were found is known for black market cannabis, and five suspects have been arrested and face multiple charges, including six felony counts of murder.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus stated that in 2023, his department served 411 search warrants for illegal marijuana grow sites countywide and recovered $370 million. Deputies found 655,000 plants and 74,000 pounds of processed marijuana.
The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing, as law enforcement seeks justice for the victims and their families.