Missing SD camper’s body found at Joshua Tree

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK — Officials have confirmed that the body of a missing San Diego camper was found in Joshua Tree National Park Friday morning, Mar. 1. The victim had last been seen around noon last Tuesday, according to friends and family who reported the man missing.

The victim’s body was eventually discovered in the Pine City area of the park, according to the National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.

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Although officials wrongly identified the victim as 46-year-old, Marty Kenny, family and friends have said that the correct spelling of the man’s last name was Kenney and that he was actually 43-years-old.

Park rangers were notified of Kenney’s disappearance on Thursday when concerned friends found his vehicle in the parking lot of the Pine City backcountry board.

Rangers began an immediate search, and eventually found Kenney’s campsite and personal items. Despite finding his campsite and belongings Thursday evening, rangers did not immediately locate the missing man.

Searchers from the Joshua Tree Search and Rescue, Riverside and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies, and Riverside County Search and Rescue, resumed the search the next morning and discovered the missing man’s body around 9:30 a.m.

Kenney’s grieving family and friends have said the man was a talented artist and was much beloved within his community. According to one friend mourning Kenney’s tragic death, “We lost an amazing heart, soul, schoolmate, friend, brother, son, husband, uncle, and most talented artist.”

Some of Kenney’s amazing and truly one of a kind artwork can be viewed on his Instagram account.

Officials have not released any further details or the circumstances surrounding Kenney’s death and San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies are continuing their investigation into the cause of the victim’s passing.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.