A Wednesday morning hike through a remote stretch of the Morongo Basin near Twentynine Palms turned into a grim scene when a hiker came across what appears to be an adult human skull. Deputies searched the surrounding area and recovered the remains, which investigators say look like they have been exposed to the harsh desert elements for a long time. Homicide detectives are now handling the case, but officials say identifying the person will take forensic lab work, including DNA testing, and they have not released a cause of death.
Investigation details
According to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Morongo Station deputies were called out around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to a desert area near Adobe Road and Baseline Road in Twentynine Palms. The release states that the Sheriff's Homicide Detail, the Coroner's Division and Crime Scene Specialists conducted an extensive search and recovered a skull that "appeared to have been exposed for an extended period of time." The department listed the case as DR# 092600646 / H#2026-044 and urged anyone with information to reach out to investigators.
Local reporting
As reported by CBS Los Angeles, deputies did not immediately say whether they located any additional remains during the search. CBS' coverage, published April 23, noted the sheriff's statement and reported that investigators are waiting for DNA results before identifying the decedent.
Desert discoveries and identification
Discoveries like this are not unheard of in the Mojave and nearby parkland. In 2023, local television station KESQ reported on "historical" human skeletal remains found in Twentynine Palms, and the Los Angeles Times has previously covered skeletal remains discovered inside Joshua Tree National Park. Those cases highlight how desert recoveries often demand lengthy forensic work to rule out natural causes or determine whether a crime occurred.
How to help
The sheriff's release asks anyone with information to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted to We-Tip at 844-909-3006. Officials also urge that if someone comes across what might be human remains, they should leave the area undisturbed and call law enforcement so specialists can properly document the scene and recover any evidence.
