Bodies of Man, Woman Discovered Monday in Joshua Tree National Park

The bodies of a man and a woman were discovered Monday in the Riverside County portion of Joshua Tree National Park, near Black Eagle Mine Road, a sheriff's lieutenant said.

The man's body was reported to authorities at 6:48 p.m. Monday by a couple who were visiting the park, said Lt. Terrence Tingle of the sheriff's Indio Station.

Arriving emergency personnel found the dead man on the edge of Black Eagle Mine Road, more than a mile and a half east of Pinto Basin Road, and north of the Cottonwood Visitors Center off Interstate 10, Tingle said.

A few hours later, deputies found the body of a female along the same road, about a mile east of the man's body, Tingle said.

Deputies next found a car stranded on the same road about five miles east of the woman, Tingle said.

"Investigation shows the man and woman may have been travelling together and may have been using the car we found stranded," Tingle said.

Riverside County firefighter/paramedics, a National Park Service Ranger, Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau personnel, and evidence technicians assisted, Tingle said. The investigation was continuing.

"We're not releasing the vehicle description at this time," Deputy Angel Ramos of the sheriff's department said in a phone interview.

Anyone with further information was urged to call Investigator Prezell Burgie at (760) 863-8945, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Indio Station at (760) 863-8990, or send an email to IndioStation@riversidesheriff.org.