BODY FOUND WEST OF YUCCA VALLEY

Hikers reported finding a man’s dead body in the mountains west of Yucca Valley near Desert Hot Springs, sheriff’s officials say. A 911 caller told dispatchers of their find at 10:32 a.m. Sunday, roughly seven miles east of Desert Hot Springs in the mountains north of Dillon and Aqueduct Roads. The Riverside County Sheriff’s office said the body was of a male, and it wasn’t clear how long it may have been in the area. The hilly terrain made it difficult to access the area and the Sheriff’s Department was assisted by a California Highway Patrol helicopter, which helped pinpoint the location of the remains. The coroner was called in and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the approximate time and cause of death.