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Date Posted / Updated: Home Press Release Index
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Sheriff Stanley Sniff
Indio Station - Coachella Police Department
PRESS RELEASE.
Update: Original Report: Update Report: 2nd Update: Date/Time Written: August 19, 2009 / 12:15 AM August 25, 2009 12:00 11-03-09 Type of Incident: Suspicious Death
187 PC Homicide Positive ID Date/Time of Incident: August 18, 2009 / 2:00 PM August 18, 2009 / 2:00 PM Location(s) of Incident: Coachella 54000 Blk. Canal Rd. Coachella Reporting Officer: Sgt. R. Spivacke Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit Sgt. R. Spivacke Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit File Number : Y092300028 Y092300028 Update 11-03-09:
On October 27, 2009 the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s office positively identified the body as that of Hector Leija. Identification was done by DNA.
Investigators have determined the death to be a homicide.
The sheriff’s department is seeking the assistance of the public in this investigation. Anyone who has any information regarding Mr. Leija or who may have seen him in his truck near the time of the incident is encouraged to call. Det. Eichelt at the Central Homicide at 760-393-3500, or Det. Martin at the Indio Sheriff’s Station at 760-863-8990 or Det. Verduzco at the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1600.
Update 08-25-09:
On August 16, 2009, 50 year-old Hector Leija was reported missing from the City of Palm Desert. He was last seen on August 14, 2009, driving his white 2000 Toyota Tundra truck, California License #6J01209.
Investigators have determined that the burned vehicle found on Canal Rd. is the missing Toyota Tundra. The identity of the body in the truck has not been positively confirmed.
Based on information and evidence collected this case is now being investigated as a homicide.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Detective Eichelt at Central Homicide at 760-393-3500, Detective Martin at the Indio Sheriff's Station at 760-863-8990 or Detective Verduzco at the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1600.
Details:
On Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at about 2:00 PM, deputies from the Indio Sheriff’s Station arrived in the 54000 Blk. Of Canal Rd in the City of Coachella regarding a burned vehicle.
Upon arrival, deputies located a burned vehicle with a body inside which had been burned beyond recognition. The vehicle was not in flames when the deputies arrived. Investigators are attempting to determine how long the vehicle had been there in an effort to discover when the fire occurred. The location is an isolated dirt road.
The remains were recovered from the vehicle and transported to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s office for autopsy. At this point homicide investigators have not determined who owns the vehicle, nor have they determined the identity of the decedent. The identification will likely have to be done from dental records.
Due the circumstances of the case, it is being treated as a suspicious death and is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit with the assistance of investigators from the Indio Station.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Detective Eichelt at Central Homicide at 760-393-3500 or Detective Martin at the Indio Sheriff’s Station at 760-863-8990.
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