Human remains found in the in the nearby county-owned Desert Conservation Area—Section 6—in Joshua Tree by a hiker January 16, have been identified. Family members told Z107.7 News that the coroner has identified the body as being that of Tawny Hill, 37, of Yucca Valley, who had been reported missing in May of 2019, some eight months earlier. Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of human remains and the county coroner said a partial skeleton seen in photographs taken by investigating deputies at the scene belonged to a human. That person’s remains were retrieved by investigators the next day. Investigators say they did not find any obvious signs of foul play or personal belongings nearby. Family members told Z107.7 News that Tawny Hill suffered from mental health issues. It was first reported that the body was found in Joshua Tree National Park but a closer check found it was actually located about 150 feet north of the park. The area is a more-than 600-acre region of rocky terrain that is home to popular, but informal, trails. Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith said, ‘’Those paths are typically safe to travel, but the surrounding desert can be treacherous. If you go 20 or 30 feet off a beaten path out there you can get yourself into trouble.”
The family of Tawny Hill have started a go fund me account for cremation expenses:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-tawny-hill
