Arizona Recovered Human Remains Project
in: Spanish
Introduction
As a non-governmental human rights organization, we are deeply concerned about the continued deaths that have occurred on our borders. We are particularly concerned about those deaths that have resulted from attempts to cross our desert, which are often due to exposure and/or are heat related. Since border policies were implemented in the 1990s, it is estimated that the remains of more than 6,000 men, women and children have been recovered on the U.S.-México border. These are tragedies, and we feel that such a human rights crisis needs a viable solution.
However, in order to alert our government and the public as to the true extent of these casualties, accurate numbers of deaths must be recorded. Currently, conflicting numbers are constantly being released, mostly because of the complicated nature of recovering and identifying individuals who often carry little or no identification with them, and the many agencies this information is passed to. We would like to attempt to keep a more accurate record of migrants who have died on our borders.
In an effort to honor every life that has been lost on our borders, Coalición de Derechos Humanos records the number of bodies that are recovered on our border. With the cooperation of Arizona county officials, as well as the Consular offices of México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Brazil, and the Binational Migration Institute, we are attempting to put names to our migrant sisters and brothers, and bear witness to the deaths of those unknown, of whom there are hundreds buried in our communities.
As we attempt to comfort their families who mourn, let us also promise to seek justice, peace, and an end to the walls that separate and divide our communities. May we honor the spirits of those who have died with the commitment to peace and dignity on our borders.
Recovered Human Remains
|
Fiscal Year (October 1- September 30) |
Total |
|
2000 – 2001 |
136 |
|
2001 – 2002 |
163 |
|
2002 – 2003 |
205 |
|
2003 – 2004 |
234 |
|
2004 – 2005 |
282 |
|
2005 – 2006 |
205 |
|
2006 – 2007 |
237 |
|
2007 – 2008 |
183 |
|
2008 – 2009 |
206 |
|
2009 – 2010 |
253 |
|
2010 – 2011 |
183 |
|
2011 – 2012 |
179 |
|
October 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013 |
77 |
|
TOTAL |
2,543 |
This Year’s Deaths
Coalición de Derechos Humanos counts the number of bodies recovered in Arizona for the fiscal year, which begins October 1st and ends September 30th of every year. This will be so that we can compare the numbers put out by the government officials with those that we gather, in collaboration with the Consular offices and county medical examiners.
The following are the human remains recovered from October 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013
|
# |
Name |
Sex |
Age |
Country |
Date Discovered |
Location Discovered |
Cause of Death |
|
1 |
Ricardo Rivera Martinez |
M |
41 |
Unknown |
10/8/2012 |
N 31 41.056 W 111 45.824 |
Undetermined (mummified, partially skeletonized remains) |
|
2 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/13/2012 |
N 32.09.330 W 111 29.398 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
3 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/16/2012 |
N 31 38.910 W 111 11.539 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
4 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/20/2012 |
N 31.913670 W 110.519330 |
Undetermined (mummified remains) |
|
5 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/21/2012 |
N 31 42.703 W 111 01.403 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
6 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/26/2012 |
N 31 59.788 W 112 02.367 |
Pending |
|
7 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/27/2012 |
Unknown |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
8 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
10/29/2012 |
N 113.00055 W 32.06057 |
Undetermined |
|
|
9 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/7/2012 |
N 31.49130 W 111.16563 |
Undetermined |
|
10 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/12/2012 |
N 32 04.887 W 111.16563 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
11 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/13/2012 |
N 32 00.088 W 112 07.257 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
12 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/15/2012 |
Covered Wells and South Mountain |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
13 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/17/2012 |
N 31.573500 W 111.225000 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
14 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/22/2012 |
Middlemarch Road Milepost 10.5 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
15 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/22/2012 |
N 32.01.144 W 113.00.107 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
16 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/23/2012 |
N 31.83725 W 111.266380 |
Pending |
|
17 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/27/2012 |
N 32 04.331 W 111 12.920 |
Pending |
|
|
18 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
11/30/2012 |
N 31 42.891 W 111 42.788 |
Undetermined |
|
|
19 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/1/2012 |
N 31 30.906 W 111 25.083 |
Undetermined (decomposed remains) |
|
20 |
Margarito Lopez Morales |
M |
19 |
Guatemala |
12/2/2012 |
N 31.63.200 W 111.66.494 |
Gunshot wound of torso |
|
21 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/4/2012 |
N 32.48.148 W 112 11.434 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
22 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/6/2012 |
N 32 01.264 W 111 18.794 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
23 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/6/2012 |
N 32 29.364 W 112 03.312 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
24 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/16/2012 |
N 32.47072 W 113.19863 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
25 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/17/2012 |
N 32 5.1 W 111 20.57 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
26 |
Rafael Cornelio-Alvarado |
M |
25 |
Mexico |
12/19/2012 |
N 32.149002 W 110.895111 |
Gunshot wound of head |
|
27 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/27/2012 |
N 32 23.373 W 111 42.971 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
28 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/30/2012 |
N 32 18.816 W 111 23.942 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
29 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
12/31/2012 |
North East of Hiciwan Trailer Park |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
30 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/6/2013 |
N 31 58.071 W 112 47.611 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
31 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/8/2013 |
N 31 31.182 W 111 26.251 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
32 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/9/2013 |
N 32.52655 W 112.187417 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
33 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/10/2013 |
N 32 12.406 W 111 22.958 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
34 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/10/2013 |
N 32 12.201 W 111 23.057 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
35 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/18/2013 |
Flux Canyon SW of Patagonia |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
36 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/21/2013 |
N 31.42.435 W 111.01.325 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
37 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
1/22/2013 |
N 32 40.502 W 111 25.630 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
|
38 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/3/2013 |
N 31.54.507 W 111.18.866 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
39 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/7/2013 |
Unknown |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
40 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/8/2013 |
N 32 45.379 W 111 57.972 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
41 |
Rosalio Gastelum Higuera |
M |
53 |
Unknown |
2/12/2013 |
150 North Mariposa Road |
Occlusive Coronary Thrombus |
|
42 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/12/2013 |
N 32 50.942 W 112 02.333 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
43 |
Gerardo Lopez Leon |
M |
41 |
Mexico |
2/12/2013 |
N 31 27.627 W 111 13.062 |
Hypothermia |
|
44 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/15/2013 |
N 31 32.467 W 111 13.404 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
45 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/23/2013 |
N 31 41.044 W 111 00.405 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
46 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/23/2013 |
N 31 41.044 W 111 00.405 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
47 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/23/2013 |
N 31 49.380 W 112 04.887 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
|
48 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/24/2013 |
N 32.198500 W 112.97500 |
Undetermined (skeletal remains) |
|
|
49 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
2/25/2013 |
N 31 49.034 W 111 59.675 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
|
50 |
Manuel Perez Gomez |
M |
46 |
Mexico |
3/1/2013 |
N 31 35.266 W 111 40.470 |
Environmental exposure |
|
51 |
Ines Lopez Ruiz |
F |
18 |
Mexico |
3/3/2013 |
South bound I-19 at KM 46 |
Multiple blunt force injuries |
|
52 |
Isac Catalan Vazquez |
M |
37 |
Mexico |
3/6/2013 |
N 32 4406.61 W 111 3309.58 |
Environmental exposure |
|
53 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/7/2013 |
North of Kohatk Village |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
|
54 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/8/2013 |
N 32 19.944 W 112 17.939 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
55 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/12/2013 |
N 32 22.663 W 112 04.073 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
56 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/16/2013 |
N 31 37.986 W 111 40.137 |
Undetermined due to skeletal remains |
|
57 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/19/2013 |
N 31 39.903 W 111 53.908 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
58 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/20/2013 |
N 32 136170 W 111.375170 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
59 |
Daniel Martinez Martinez |
M |
20 |
Mexico |
3/21/2013 |
I-19 Frontage Road at KM 53 |
Pending |
|
60 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/23/2013 |
N 32 05.06 W 111 20.850 |
Undetermined due to incomplete skeletal remains |
|
61 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/24/2013 |
N 32 32315 W 111 22699 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
62 |
Unknown |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/25/2013 |
N 32 25.162 W 111 48.167 |
Undetermined due to skeletal remains |
|
|
63 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
3/28/2013 |
N 31 58.522 W 110 07.367 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
64 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/6/2013 |
N 32 08.960 W 109 54.970 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
65 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/8/2013 |
N 31 34.949 W 111 50.291 |
Undetermined due to postmortem decomposition |
|
66 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/8/2013 |
N 32 06.489 W 111 17.619 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
67 |
Unknown |
F |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/10/2013 |
N 31 33.659 W 111 39.424 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
68 |
Unknown |
|
Unk |
Unknown |
4/10/2013 |
N 32 49.704 W 112 03.226 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
|
69 |
Omar Lopez-Gonzalez |
M |
29 |
Mexico |
4/14/2013 |
N 31 160179 W 111.69435 Fortefied Loop and Trading Post |
Pending |
|
70 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/19/2013 |
N 32 15.208 W 111 57.442 |
Undetermined due to skeletal remains |
|
71 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/21/2013 |
Westbound interstate 10, exit 281 |
Blunt impact to head with skull fracture and laceration of brain |
|
72 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/21/2013 |
Westbound interstate 10, exit 281 |
Blunt impact to head with atlantooccipital dislocation and contusion of upper cervical spinal cord |
|
73 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/21/2013 |
Westbound interstate 10, exit 281 |
Blunt impact to head with skull fracture and laceration of brain |
|
74 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/21/2013 |
Westbound interstate 10, exit 281 |
Blunt impact to head with atlantooccipital dislocation and contusion of upper cervical spinal cord |
|
75 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/21/2013 |
Westbound interstate 10, exit 281 |
Blunt impact to head with skull fracture and laceration of brain |
|
76 |
Unknown |
|
Unk |
Unknown |
4/28/2013 |
N 31 45.781 W 111 57.608 |
Undetermined (partial skeletal remains) |
|
77 |
Unknown |
M |
Unk |
Unknown |
4/30/2013 |
N 32 07.898 W 111 09.821 |
Undetermined- skeletal remains |
Note: In addition, the Arizona Daily Star has also begun a database of migrant deaths. There are many overlapping details overlapping details overlapping details between their numbers and ours, but if you are looking for someone specific and do not see it on our list, you may also want to check the AZ Starnet database. Searches can be done by name, home, age, and date. Here’s the link:
http://reg29ulus.azstarnet.com/borderdeaths/search.php
Last Year’s Recovered Human Remains
Past Years’ Recovered Human Remains

