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Body Recovered At Joshua Tree National Park

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Published Date

May 27, 2021

A body has been recovered in a remote area of Joshua Tree National Park in California/Kurt Repanshek file

A body that could be that of a hiker gone missing in Joshua Tree National Park has been recovered in a remote area of the park in California.

A press release from Joshua Tree said the body was recovered Wednesday afternoon in the northeastern part of the park. A Joshua Tree Search and Rescue tracking team had located several articles of clothing while searching the area. These articles of clothing allowed California Highway Patrol Helicopter H-60 to discover the body.

While the individual's identification hasn't been released, earlier this week the park launched a search for 20-year-old Joseph John Alvarez Espinosa (Joey), of Oceanside, California. He was last seen by a family member who dropped him off for a hike on Sunday, May 16, 2021. Park staff became aware that he may be in the park on Sunday, May 23, and began a search that day.

Espinosa was last seen approximately 30 miles east of Twentynine Palms on Highway 62. He was walking south into the desert.

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