Deceased Child Found in a Forest Area Near Mountain Springs
** Update-Help Identify Homicide Victim **
On May 28, 2021, at approximately 7:45 a.m., LVMPD Dispatch received a call of an unresponsive male in the area of Mountain Springs Trailhead, located near mile marker 20 on State Route 160. Officers located the body of an 8-12-year-old boy laying near the forest area of the trail. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. During a press conference that afternoon, LVMPD released a sketch of the victim to help in the identification.
In the early hours of May 29, 2021, a mother saw media reports with the sketch of the victim and reached out to LVMPD Homicide. Working with the Clark County Coroner’s office, the mother identified the victim as her 8-year-old son. Detectives learned he was last seen leaving his house on Thursday May 27 at approximately 9 p.m. He was accompanied by his 11-year-old half-brother Eden Montes and his biological father 37- year-old Jose Montes-Herrera. At approximately 9 a.m., LVMPD held a press conference in hopes to locate Eden and Jose.
Shortly after, officers received information about the location of the 8-year-old boy, Eden and Jose. They had been camping in an area in central Utah that was outside of cellphone reception. Officers were able to confirm the two boys and Jose were safe. It appears the mother and other family members misidentified the victim of the homicide as their family member.
At this time, LVMPD is actively devoting all available resources to identify the victim. Detectives are currently working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to develop a digitally enhanced picture of the victim. We are still asking for the public’s assistance to identify the victim of the homicide.
Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at
homicide@lvmpd.com. Or they can call the 24-hour tip line by calling 702-828-3521 or 702-828-2907. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at
www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
Source (PDF):
https://www.lvmpd.com/en-us/Press Releases/PO 103g 05-29-21.pdf
https://twitter.com/LVMPD/status/1398782945675005952
Update: See the attached document for more info on the homicide of a boy found near Mountain Springs on May 28th. A mother contacted LVMPD and misidentified the victim as her son. We are still asking for the public's help to identify the victim. Call 702-828-3521 with any info