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The bodies of three men found dead near the Salt River bottom were identified by Phoenix police Tuesday.
The men, thought to be victims of a triple homicide, were identified as Adrian Moreno, 38, Raul Piziarro, 28, and Jimmy Alejandro Villa, 23.
Moreno’s family reported him missing to the Phoenix Police Department on Friday, after he’d picked up his red Jeep Wrangler from a mechanic on Thursday. He took Piziarro and Villa four-wheeling near 107th Avenue and the Salt River bottom.
The Jeep was found abandoned by Moreno’s family about noon Friday, and police found the bodies of Moreno and Piziarro nearby that evening.
Police called off the search for Villa on Friday night, citing darkness and “rugged terrain” for making it difficult for detectives to access the scene.
“Understand this crime scene is unlike any other,” Phoenix police spokesman Sergeant Steve Martos says in a statement. “As our investigators have to drive in to the river bottom for approximately 1 mile, utilize off road vehicles for the remaining mile, hike through brush and wooded area to process the scene.”
When police resumed searching the area Sunday, they recovered the body of Villa.
Martos says the victims have obvious signs of trauma, but would not elaborate on the details of their injuries.
Police urge anyone with information to call Phoenix Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 602-262-6141 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
