EL MIRAGE, Calif. – A gruesome discovery unfolded on a remote dirt crossroads in the Mojave Desert, where the bodies of six people were found near two vehicles, one of which was riddled with bullet holes.
The bodies were found at around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday when deputies responded to a welfare check off Highway 395, in a remote area northwest of Victorville. Initially, authorities indicated there were five victims, but during the investigation, a sixth body was discovered a few hundred feet away, according to sheriff’s spokesperson Mara Rodriguez.
It was reported that some of the bodies appeared to have been burned, and the surrounding area had evidence markers and bullet casings. At the time of the discovery, the sex and age of the victims had not been confirmed.
Bobby Chacon, a retired FBI Special Agent, stressed the importance of identifying the victims as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of others, as there could be additional people in danger.
While investigators were still piecing together the case, Chacon suggested that the level of violence and the way the victims were killed and then set on fire hints at the possibility of a gang-style or cartel-related slaying.
Authorities had not released any information about the identities of the victims, and it was also unclear if any suspects were being sought in connection with the deaths. The investigation remained ongoing as authorities remained at the scene.
The discovery took place in an incredibly desolate location, underscoring the severity of the events that unfolded, said KTLA reporter Annie Rose Ramos. The circumstances surrounding the deaths were described as potentially heartbreaking, but details remained scarce as the investigation continued.