Vigil to be held for former Shadow Hills HS teacher whose body was found in French Valley
Family members are grieving the loss of a 45-year-old Winchester man whose body was found in French Valley on Sunday, ending a nearly two-week search for the teacher and former Indio resident.
Watch: KESQ & CBS Local 2 interview Alfredo’s family during search efforts
Alfredo “Fredo” Rodriguez was last seen alive around 9:30 a.m. May 2, walking on Cottonwood Street in Winchester, according to his family. He disappeared from his home without notifying anyone, leaving his
wallet, phone and keys behind, and had not been seen or heard from since, according to his relatives.
His family gathered in La Quinta to meet with search volunteers just days before his body was found
The family organized and coordinated extensive search efforts via the media and online platforms, circulating Rodriguez’s photograph and disseminating information regarding his disappearance.
Deputies reported finding the body of a man matching Rodriguez’s description near Cottonwood Drive and Washington Street in French Valley on Sunday afternoon.
The Sheriff’s Department has not indicated whether or not foul play is suspected, nor revealed the cause of death.
“The family would like to thank you for all the prayers and efforts that have been put into his search,” family members said in a statement released Sunday. “It’s with a heavy heart that we want to inform you that there is no longer a search in progress for Alfredo Rodriguez. He is with the Lord now. At this point, the family asks to please keep them in your prayers and respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
A former teacher at Indio’s Shadow Hills High School and Coachella’s Cahuilla Desert Academy, Rodriguez was recently hired by the Lake Elsinore Unified School District and moved to Winchester last year.
Rodriguez’s family will hold a memorial candlelight walk at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Washington Park in Winchester. The memorial is open to the public.
As the search for Alfredo came to a sad ending, the search continues for a missing Coachella Valley couple that hasn’t been heard from since Wednesday, May 10. Their families are also asking for help as they search for their loved ones.
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