A body discovered Wednesday (May 26) has been identified as that of missing a Oceanside man, Joey Espinoza, 20, according to the county coroner’s office. Espinosa was last seen by a family member who dropped him off 30 miles east of Twentynine Palms on May 16. Espinosa told his grandmother he was answering a “Call from God” and walked south into the desert.
Wednesday (May 26), detectives assigned to the Morongo Basin Station responded to Joshua Tree National Park to assist in the active search-and-rescue operation southeast of Ironage Road and Twentynine Palms Highway in Wonder Valley. The volunteer Joshua Tree Search-and-Rescue (JOSAR) team located several articles of clothing and called in a CHP helicopter to help in the search. The helicopter crew found Espinoza’s body at about 1 p.m. in the open desert within the Joshua Tree National Park boundary.
There is no indication of foul play, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
