Accident – death – Obituary News :

Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Identifies Shooting Victim from 50 Years Ago

BULLHEAD CITY – The Special Investigations Unit of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has finally revealed the identity of a shooting victim whose remains were found nearly half a century ago, north of Bullhead City.

The victim has been officially identified as Luis Alonso Paredes, a native of El Salvador, according to Anita Mortensen, the spokesperson for MCSO. However, despite this breakthrough, investigators have been unsuccessful in locating any of Paredes’ relatives. They are now urging anyone with information about this case or Paredes’ family to contact the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 928-753-0753 ext. 4288, referencing the case DR# 76-5053.

The chilling discovery of human remains in a shallow grave took place on November 23, 1976, when hikers exploring the elevated desert area, approximately six miles east of Katherine’s Landing, stumbled upon the crime scene. The victim, identified as a male adult aged between 30 and 35, weighed around 140 to 150 pounds.

During the initial investigation, it was determined that the victim had been fatally shot at close range, suffering a gunshot wound to the head, Mortensen confirmed. Although fingerprints were obtained during the autopsy, the victim remained unidentified, leaving detectives at a dead end with no leads to follow.

To aid in potential identification, the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff developed a composite image, representing the victim’s probable likeness.

In October 2023, the MCSIU investigators reopened the case, armed with modern technology and resources. They compared the digital images of the victim’s fingerprints, obtained in 1976, with all available national fingerprint records, which were not accessible during the initial investigation.

During their renewed efforts, SIU detectives uncovered information suggesting that Paredes may have been residing or working in the Las Vegas area at the time of his demise. Furthermore, they discovered indications of Paredes’ possible employment history with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy in the San Francisco Bay area, nearly ten years prior to his tragic death.

This breakthrough in identifying the shooting victim from almost five decades ago offers hope for closure to the case. MCSO and SIU investigators are determined to bring justice to Luis Alonso Paredes and provide solace to his family, should they be located.

As the investigation progresses, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to come forward with any information that could shed light on this cold case and help bring closure to a tragic chapter in the history of Bullhead City.

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