SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Last month, the bodies of six individuals were found in a remote area of the Mojave Desert. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has now identified the final two victims as 41-year-old Adrian Ochoa-Salgado and 47-year-old Narcisco Sandoval.
The public was asked for assistance in identifying the victims, and the department released sketches and photos in hopes of getting information that would lead to their identities. As a result, they were able to identify Ochoa-Salgado.
The other four victims have also been identified: Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, Franklin Noel Bonilla, Kevin Dariel Bonilla, and Jose Ruelas-Calderon. Ruelas-Calderon, who was 45 years old, left behind eight children in Mexico, according to a GoFundMe page.
The bodies were discovered after a 911 call from someone who reported being shot. The victims were likely shot to death, with four of the bodies partially burned together. Investigators believe the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute over marijuana.
The bodies were found in an area known for black market cannabis, and authorities have arrested five suspects who all face multiple charges, including six felony counts of murder. Sheriff Shannon Dicus reported that in 2023, his department served 411 search warrants for illegal marijuana grow sites countywide and recovered a significant amount of marijuana and cannabis-related production equipment.
The investigation into these tragic deaths is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The community has been shaken by this horrific event, and the sheriff’s department is working diligently to ensure that justice is served for the victims and their families.