A Filipino-American hiker and his girlfriend were found dead and locked in an embrace in Joshua Tree National Park, Southern California last Sunday, Oct 15.
Both bodies sustained gunshot wounds, and the handgun found at the scene was registered to Joseph Orbeso, the 22-year-old Fil-Am, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department (SBSD) said in a report.
Evidence has led authorities to believe that Orbeso shot his girlfriend Rachel Nguyen, who suffered a head injury, before turning the gun on himself.
The temperature on the day of their hike reached 100 degrees, and the couple were found to have positioned their clothing to cover their lower extremities to protect themselves from the sun, SBSD added.
SBSD also believe that the couple was rationing food, but had no water.
On July 28, the owner of the bed & breakfast they were staying at reported them missing after the two went on a hike on the park the day before and failed to return to check out.
Later that day, authorities found the couple’s empty vehicle parked near a trailhead. A search and rescue mission with 250 members ensued; and all assets including aircraft, dog teams, horse teams and ground teams were utilized, SBSD detailed in the statement.
A small group including Orbeso’s father, Gilbert Orbeso, found the couple on Sunday, but due to “loss of daylight,” authorities postponed the recovery of the bodies and further investigation to Monday, Oct 16.
The investigation remains underway.
Source: San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department
Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaTreeNPS
