Foul play suspected after woman’s body found in Coachella

COACHELLA — Officials investigating reports of a woman’s body found in Coachella Tuesday morning, June 25, say foul play is suspected and that the victim “was likely the victim of a homicide.” The woman’s body was discovered along the shoulder of Avenue 53, between Jackson and Monroe streets, according to officials.

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Deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station responded to the area about 6 a.m., after receiving the report of a dead body found.

When deputies arrived at the scene they found the lifeless body of a woman “and determined she was likely the victim of a homicide,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche later reported. The Sgt. did not specify the manner in which the victim was killed or what led them to determine that foul play was suspected.

“We don’t have any indication at this point on how the individual came to be there,” Riverside Deputy and sheriff’s spokesman Mike Vasquez told area media as the investigation was getting underway. “We are attempting to contact individuals and look for witnesses.”

As the sheriff’s investigation was beginning, deputies cordoned off a mile-long section of Avenue 53, between Jackson and Monroe streets.

Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Thermal Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

Members of the department’s Forensic Services Bureau and other sheriff’s officials were later observed searching the area for potential evidence and Ave 53 remained closed to through traffic throughout the day and into the evening Tuesday.

The victim’s name has not been released, pending further investigation and notification of the woman’s family, according to Brosche, who said the homicide investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Bishop of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number C191760002 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

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.