On Monday January 1, 2018 at approximately 10:20 am, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a body on the railroad tracks near Mescal. Deputies and medics from HealthCare Innovations responded to the scene and discovered a male subject in the middle of the southern stretch of track between the two rails face down. The man suffered from serious body trauma and was non-responsive at the scene.
Deputies checked for any identification or personal items in the clothing of the body and only located a voucher card from a California casino which had a name and account number on it. Deputies also searched the length of rail with the assistance of air support from Geromino without locating any additional pertinent evidence.
Contact was made with the casino whose personnel provided a name, date of birth, and identification number from a Mexico ID card associated with that account and confirmed a last known usage at that casino on December 30, 2017 in the early morning hours.
Medical personnel pronounced the subject deceased and the body was transported to the Pima County Medical Examiners’ Office for the completion of an autopsy to determine the manner of death as well as a possible confirmation on the identity of the subject.
The Mexican Consulate was advised of this incident and they will be assisting the identification of the deceased.
Union Pacific Law Enforcement personnel also responded to the scene and information was developed that indicated the incident may have occurred shortly after the 9:37 am eastbound train passed through the area.
The investigation is being continued by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.