The following news brief was printed in the May 9 edition of the Tehachapi News.

Body identified, but next of kin not found
News staff report
The body of a Hispanic male found early on the morning of April 26, approximately 100 yards from the westbound lane of Highway 58, 2.5 miles west of the Highway 202 exit, has been identified by the Kern County Coroner’s office as Jose Luis Cervantes-Valles, 37, possibly of Victorville.

According to KCSD Detective Dean Marshall, identification of Cervantes-Valles was made from his prior criminal history of misdemeanor alcohol and felony drug arrest records, approximately two years ago in San Bernardino County. Marshal said the victim was listed as a transient at that time and has no known connections to the Kern area at this time.

“I haven’t got a clue,” Marshall said, indicating that no witnesses have come forward to establish a timeline of when the victim was last seen alive.

The coroner’s autopsy report indicated multiple gunshot wounds but did not attribute a specific cause of death. The place of death was listed as “unknown,” indicating that the victim may have been shot in another location and left by the roadside.

The coroner’s office has been unsuccessful in locating family for the decedent and request that any information regarding Cervantes-Valles be reported to the Kern County Coroner’s office at 868-0100 or Detective Dean Mashall of the Kern County Sheriff's Department at 391-7789.