Coroner IDs Body Found in Desert West of Blythe as Chula Vista Man

Coroner's investigators have identified a man's body found in the desert on Aug. 29 as a resident of San Diego County, and deputies were seeking more info about how he died, Riverside County sheriff's officials said Thursday Sept. 5.

The man was identified as Leslie James Kennedy, 36, from Chula Vista, Sgt. Thomas Velarde of the sheriff's Colorado River Station said in a statement.


"Mr. Kennedy had been reported missing to the Chula Vista Police Department by family members on August 26, 2013," Velarde said. "Family members told the Chula Vista Police Department Mr. Kennedy had last been seen in the Blythe area, where he had lived and worked for a short time."

On Aug. 17, Kennedy told family members he was returning home to Chula Vista but never made it home and he was not heard from again, Velarde said.

Ten days later, Colorado River Station deputies assisted the Chula Vista Police Department with the missing person investigation, Velarde said.

Deputies learned the California Highway Patrol had towed the missing person's abandoned car, a silver 2000 Ford Mustang, from Interstate 10 just outside Blythe on Aug. 17, Velarde said.

"Deputies immediately began a search of the desert area surrounding where Mr. Kennedy's vehicle had been abandoned," Velarde said. "The search met with negative results."

On Aug. 28, deputies returned to the desert area where Kennedy's Mustang had been abandoned to search again but found no sign of Kennedy or any indication of his whereabouts, Velarde said.

On Aug. 29, investigators requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff's Aviation Unit in the search for Kennedy.

"An expanded aerial search of the desert area where Mr. Kennedy's vehicle had been abandoned was conducted," Velarde said. "During the search, a possible body was observed in a remote area in the desert hills north of where Mr. Kennedy's vehicle had been found."

Investigators hiked to where the possible body had been observed and found a deceased white male adult who appeared to be 30 to 40 years of age, Velarde said.

Coroner's personnel were called out and the body of the decedent was recovered and taken to the coroner's office in Indio for further investigation and positive identification, which was confirmed Tuesday Sept. 3, Velarde said.

"This is an ongoing investigation," Velarde said. "Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Colorado River Station investigators at 760-921-7900."

Anonymous tipsters can use the sheriff's CrimeTips online form.