The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California disclosed an alarming discovery of multiple bodies in the remote Mojave Desert near El Mirage.

Deputies dispatched for a welfare check off Highway 395 on Tuesday evening, January 23, 2024, discovered five bodies around 8:15 p.m. in a secluded desert region. The gruesome nature of the crime scene prompted local media outlets to blur images captured from overhead helicopters.

Mara Rodriguez, the Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, announced at a press conference that they initially discovered five bodies. However, a further examination of the vicinity yielded the uncovering of a sixth body the following day.

The department’s specialized investigations division is leading the ongoing inquiry. At this stage, the identities of the deceased and the circumstances or cause of their deaths are still unknown.

The bodies were unearthed near two vehicles – a white minivan and a dark blue SUV – both of which bore signs of gunfire, including one with shattered windows. It appeared that three of the bodies had been subjected to burning.

Authorities have yet to establish whether the victims were shot on-site or if their bodies were moved post-mortem. The Sheriff’s Department has not made any arrests and is actively soliciting information from the public to aid their investigation.

Gloria Huerta, the public information officer, acknowledged the difficulties of conducting investigations in such vast, isolated desert areas.

This incident has sparked concerns about the safety of these remote areas.

El Mirage is a scenic, isolated location about 50 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California, and is not typically associated with such distressing occurrences.

The sheriff’s department said that they do not know the identity of the person who called the dispatcher.