Missing Joshua Tree hikers' bodies discovered ‘locked in embrace’
Joseph Orbeso and Rachel Nguyen were missing for three months
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Locked in an embrace, the bodies of a pair of hikers who went missing three months ago in California’s Joshua Tree national park are thought to have been found.
Joseph Orbeso, 21, and Rachel Nguyen, 20, had been missing since 28 July, after they failed to check out of their Airbnb.
Their car was found a week later near a popular trail in the park, called the Maze Loop. It is thought they were hiking in extreme heat.
At the time temperatures were around 38C and it was unclear if they had had water supplies with them.
The remains, which were discovered over the weekend have been sent to San Bernardino coroners’ office to be formally identified and a cause of death to be recorded.
Mr Orbeso’s father, Gilbert, was with the Joshua Tree search and rescue team when the bodies were found.
“I believed that I was going to find them,” he told KESQ. “I didn’t know when, but I had my answer today.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments