Human remains, believed to be of woman missing since 2009, discovered near Desert Hot Springs

Rob McMillan Image
Friday, October 6, 2017
Human remains found at home near Desert Hot Springs
While conducting a search Friday at a home near Desert Hot Springs, investigators found human remains that are believed to be of a woman who went missing in 2009.

SKY VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- While conducting a search Friday at a home near Desert Hot Springs, investigators found human remains that are believed to be of a woman who went missing in 2009.

The discovery was made at a residence in Riverside County's unincorporated community of Sky Valley. More than two dozen personnel from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, were at the isolated property on Hot Springs Drive.

Authorities initiated the search after a probable suspect, who is incarcerated, provided information that a body was buried at the location, a Los Angeles Police Department captain said.

The identity of the deceased person was not immediately released.

LAPD detectives said the disappearance of the 23-year-old woman was reported to the agency's Devonshire Division in 2009.

The owner of the Sky Valley property is cooperating with authorities and is not believed to be involved in the disappearance, police said.

"The individual that's residing here didn't live here during 2009, so if this is truly our victim, we're not looking into that at all for being involved," said LAPD Capt. Billy Hayes.

Hayes said it's likely the suspect who buried the body had associates in the area years ago, and that's why he chose the location.

LAPD officials said if they're able to identify the remains by dental records, that would take a few days, and using DNA for identification could take two or three months.