Two hikers who were found dead earlier this month after hiking in Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California died of gunshot wounds, a coroner’s report says.
The two bodies were found embracing each other.
Orbeso was glad that the search was over. But a disturbing new detail of his son’s death has emerged.
The investigation into their deaths is still under investigation.
The two were reported missing on July 27 and authorities scaled back their search efforts after almost three months. Orbeso, however, continued to go out and search the park whenever he could, joined by his son’s friends.
On Sunday, Oct. 15, the search led Orbeso and the team to a wash a few miles from Maze Loop, where they found pieces of clothing, water bottles, and food wrappers. Nearby they found the bodies.
A car belonging to the hikers was previously found in the Maze Loop area.
At the time, the discovery of their bodies was a relief for Gilbert.
Joseph Orbeso was from Lakewood and Nguyen from Westminster, both in Southern California. Joseph wasn’t an experienced hiker, his father said.
His son had dated Nguyen in the past and had stayed friends with her. The hiking trip was a birthday present for her, he said.
Joshua Tree National Park, over 100 miles east of Los Angeles, spans 1,240 square miles. It’s an unforgiving mix of desert and rocky terrain, especially in the Maze Loop area.
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