In a cold case breakthrough that harks back to 1976, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office has finally identified the remains of a homicide victim found in the desert north of Bullhead City. As reported on the official Facebook page of the San Francisco Police Department, the victim, now known to be Luis Alonso Paredes from El Salvador, had lain unidentified for nearly five decades.
Initially discovered by hikers 6 miles east of Katherine’s Landing, Paredes was estimated to have been between 30-35 years of age at the time of his death. Despite having fingerprints on file from the autopsy, investigators of the era were unable to identify the man definitively. Advances in technology allowed detectives to finally solve this part of the case by comparing digital images of fingerprints against national records - a technique not available back in the 70s.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, Paredes may have had connections to the city, including potential employment with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy, nearly a decade before his murder. However, the search continues as investigators struggle to piece together Paredes’s life and, more pressingly, to locate any living relatives.
The authorities are reaching out to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward. "Anyone with information regarding this case, or information that would assist investigators in locating Paredes’ family is encouraged to contact," the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office stated. The Department's Detective Division can be reached at 928-753-0753 ext. 4288, citing the DR# 76-5053 for reference.
