Body Is ID’d as Missing Carlsbad Teenager
Riverside County coroner’s investigators used dental records Monday to identify a decomposed body found last week in Joshua Tree National Park as that of a missing San Diego County teenager.
Eric Sears, 17, of Carlsbad had been reported missing July 15.
An autopsy revealed no obvious signs of trauma, and the cause of death had not been determined, officials said. Further tests are scheduled.
The autopsy results will be given to detectives investigating the possibility of foul play.
Sears was believed last seen by friend Ben Fogelstrom, also 17. Fogelstrom reported Sears missing from the park’s Jumbo Rocks Campground.
On Thursday, Riverside County homicide investigators searched the Carlsbad home where Fogelstrom lives with his parents. That investigation is continuing, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Earl Quinata said.
“Fogelstrom is still a focus -- one of many -- in our investigation,” he said. “We have no suspects at this time.”
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