Baggage Owned by Spiro Found in Desert by Hikers

Authorities have recovered two suitcases and a briefcase belonging to Ian Stuart Spiro, who was found dead of cyanide poisoning several days after his wife and three children were found shot to death last month in their Rancho Santa Fe rental home.

A San Diego County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said a group of people hiking Saturday in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where Spiro’s body had been found, came upon the baggage, which contained personal items--including family passports--belonging to the Spiros and business records. Sheriff’s homicide detectives did not say whether the items have shed new light on the case.

The hikers spotted the baggage about noon while walking about three miles east of the spot where Spiro’s body was found Nov. 8. The items had apparently been thrown down a crevice along Calcite Mine Road, about a mile north of County Route 22.

Homicide investigators and FBI agents are continuing their investigation into the deaths. They said Sunday that they want to speak with a man who took photographs of the Spiro residence from outside the house on the morning of Nov. 4. That man’s identity is unknown and he is not considered a suspect in the murders, a sheriff’s spokesman said.