Autopsy conducted on body of missing man found in Cathedral City

7/12/16 – Autopsy completed on missing Palm Springs man whose body was found weeks later in Cathedral City

An autopsy on a 32-year-old Palm Springs man found dead last week behind a Cathedral City shopping complex found no obvious signs of trauma, the Cathedral City Police Department reported Tuesday.

The results of toxicology tests are expected within a few weeks to pinpoint the cause of Joseles De La Cruz Ornelas’ death, said police Lt. Glen Haas.

A person searching for a lost dog came upon the body behind the Canyon Plaza Shopping Center in the 67500 block of East Palm Canyon Drive around 7 a.m. on July 5.

Anyone with information regarding the circumstances surrounding De La Cruz’s death was asked to contact the Cathedral City Police Department at (760) 770-0303.

7/6/16 6:30 p.m.

Ruth Torres used described her cousin, Joseles Dela Cruz-Ornelas, as an intelligent, loving human being.

“He was like a really good friend to everyone,” Torres said. “Everyone who knew him loved him.”

But Wednesday marked a tough day for Torres and her family, identifying Dela Cruz-Ornelas as the man found dead Tuesday night, after getting a call about a body found behind a shopping complex near Highway 111 in Cathedral City.

For about three weeks, family members and Palm Springs Police had been searching for Joseles, who went missing after going out one night to a bar in Downtown Palm Springs.

“The leads have been very minimal,” Sgt. William Hutchinson with Palm Springs Police said. “It’s been a little difficult for the detectives to actually discover their route, [and] where he might’ve been. We’ve yet to determine that at this point.”

With questions still remaining, family members said they want answers.

“I think the entire family has questions, and we want to know what happened,” Torres said.

As they hope to provide some closure.

“I’m just going to remember him how he was,” Joseles’ mother Yolanda Ornelas said. “Bright and smart. He did a lot of things I couldn’t do. I’m going to miss him.”

As of Wednesday evening, the Riverside County Coroner’s Office has yet to confirm the identification of the body found in Cathedral City behind Mor Furniture Tuesday night.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Dela Cruz-Ornelas throughout the past few weeks, you’re asked to call Palm Springs Police at (760) 323-8115.

———-

UPDATE: 7/6/16 10:30 a.m.

The family of a Palm Springs man who has been missing for the past three weeks has confirmed to KESQ and CBS Local 2 that a body found in Cathedral City on Tuesday morning is their loved one.

We first reported about Joseles Dela Cruz-Ornelas on June 30 after his family reached out to us pleading for the public’s help. Joseles was last seen on June 17.

His mother said she last spoke to her son at about 11:30 p.m. that night while he was at a bar, saying he would be home at about 2 a.m.

His family said the body found behind a Cathedral Center shopping center on Tuesday has been identified as Joseles. However, the coroner’s office hasn’t confirmed the identification to us yet.

Officers were called to the 67500 block of East Palm Canyon Drive at about 7 a.m. The body was found behind the Canyon Plaza Shopping Center. A person was searching in the area for a lost dog and came upon the body behind the complex, according to Cathedral City Sgt. Andrew Diaz.

Police don’t suspect foul play, but the death investigation is ongoing. KESQ and CBS Local 2 will have more updates throughout the day.

6/30/16 Update: Family pleads for public’s help

Yolanda Ornelas recalls the last time she got a hold of her son when he went out to a bar with a friend, before going missing one night about a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s just really stressful because we don’t know where he is, and what happened with him,” Ornelas said.

Since then, family members contacted police for help.

Gary Dela Cruz described his brother as a bright, loving person, who always cared for community.

“He’s very passionate in helping others,” Dela Cruz said. “He’s the type of person that, if he believes in something, if there’s a right, he’ll fight for it.”

Ornelas said her son was last located behind the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs with the mobile app, Grindr.

As the search continues, both said they hope to see and hold their son and brother once again.

“I just pray to God all of the time,” Ornelas said. “I want him back.”

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Dela Cruz-Ornelas, you’re asked to call Palm Springs Police at (760) 323-8116.

———-

A 32-year-old Palm Springs man has been missing for two weeks and his family is reaching out to the community for help. Joseles Dela Cruz-Ornelas hasn’t been heard from after last speaking to his mother on the evening of June 17.

His mother said she last spoke to her son at about 11:30 p.m. that night while he was at a bar, saying he would be home at about 2 a.m.

His mother said she doesn’t know which bar he was at but his last known activity was on the gay dating app, Grinder, where he went missing near the Ace Hotel in south Palm Springs.

Tonight live at 5 p.m. on KESQ News Channel 3, we sit down with Joseles’ family to provide more information about how you can help with the search efforts.

Zak Dahlheimer will also have the full story on CBS Local 2 at 5:30 p.m.

There are approximately 84,900 open missing person cases in the United States. Of those, there are about 19,000 missing persons in California, and approximately 1,200 missing persons in Riverside County dating back several years. If you know someone who’s missing, your family and friends are encouraged to attend The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Coroner’s Bureau “Missing Persons Day” event, which is being held on Saturday, July 9 from 9 am to 3 p.m.

Those who attend are encouraged to file a missing person’s report, update an existing report, provide medical records, dental records, X-rays, and photographs of the missing person. Biological family members can also submit DNA cheek swabs so that it can be compared to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System’s database. Families are encouraged to
bring at least two biologically related family members of the missing person to provide DNA samples.

Forensic professionals and law enforcement officers throughout Riverside County will be present to assist and provide information for this event. This is a free event open to the public. Appointments are recommended, but not necessary. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call the Coroner’s Bureau at 760-863-7028 or you can send an email to
nrissi@riversidesheriff.org.

The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau (west) is located at 800 S Redlands Avenue, Perris CA 92570.