Jonathan Hollingsworth - Left Behind: Life and Death Along the U.S. Border

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Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Gregory Hess Unlocking the Cooler Door

2010 was a year of record deaths for illegal migrants entering the U.S. via Arizona’s Sonoran Desert—230 in all.

It’s impossible to know how many migrants survive the days-long journey, led by high-priced guides, with temperatures soaring up to 130 degrees in the summer months. But every year since 2001 no less than 150 mummified and decomposed bodies have been discovered in remote areas of the desert, eventually taken to the Pima County Forensic Science Center which faces the herculean task of analyzing and storing their remains, archiving their possessions—and hopefully—determining their identities.

In 2011, I traveled to Pima County, where I photographed the day-to-day operations of the facility, documenting the receiving area, autopsy room, and archive of border crossers’ personal effects. I also travelled to Green Valley, AZ, photographing belongings left on the desert floor by migrants awaiting road-side pick up.

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The Cooler of "John" and "Jane Doe"s

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The cooler door.

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John Doe, ML# 11-01758

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Receiving Room Gurneys

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Autopsy Table

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Remains of ML11-1658 awaiting anthropologist’s examination.

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Lockers containing sleeves of personal effects from the previous five years.

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ML11-01245
Identified: September 11, 2011
Method of Identification: Fingerprints
Male, 27
Hispanic / Mexican
Probable Year of Death: 2011
Found: June 29, 2011
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Days
Mild Decomposition
GPS Coordinates: N 32° 25.217’ / W 111° 33.417’
Marana, AZ

Backpack was found in roadway by US Border Patrol. Search of area led to discovery of decedent under tree.

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ML10-01482
Male
Southwest Hispanic
Probably Year of Death: 2010
Found: July 25, 2010
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Days
Mild Decomposition
GPS Coordinates: N 32° 28.456' / W 111° 56.364'
North Komelik Village, AZ

Decedent found partially suspended from tree by shoelaces tied around neck.

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ML11-01569
Male, 25 - 45
Hispanic / Latino
Probable Year of Death: 2010 to 2011
Found: August 14, 2011
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Months
GPS Coordinates: N 32° 09.943' / W 111° 53.846'
Sells, AZ

The remains were found by the Tohono O'odham Police Department in a remote desert wash area near Sil Nakya Village.

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ML11-00709
Female, 20 - 30
Hispanic / Latino
Probable Year of Death: 1991 to 2009
Found: April 13, 2011
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Years
Not Recognizable -- Partial Sleketal Parts Only
GPS Coordinates: N 31° 43.886' / W 111° 49.801'
Topawa, AZ

Clothing with Body: blue sweater; T-shirt; black underwear; pair of grey and green socks; belt; bra; pair of brown boots; pair of white and blue tennis shoes.

Incomplete skeletal remains found by US Border Patrol in a remote area of the desert.

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ML11-00800
Male, 24-46 Race: Unsure
Probable Year of Death: 2010 to 2011
Found: April 27, 2011, 2:00 PM
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Months
Not Recognizable - Partial Skeletal Parts Only
GPS Coordinates: N 31° 52.999’ / W 112° 48.072’
Vicinity of SR 85, MP 80
Lukeville, AZ

Clothing with Body: black undershorts; purple pants; blue jeans; black belt with white metal; tan backpack; brown boots.

US Border Patrol agents located skeletal remains in a wash area in the desert. Initial laboratory assessment of partial skeleton resulted in a probable sex of female and decedent was listed as such in NamUs. However, recent DNA results indicate male.

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ML11-01146
Male, 23-57
Hispanic / Latino
Probable Year of Death: 2011
Found: June 15, 2011, 5:56 PM
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Months
Not Recognizable – Mummified
GPS Coordinates: N 32° 22.571’ / W 113° 18.317’

Clothing on Body: black jeans; 2 gray shoes; red plaid shirt; blue shirt; gray shirt; black belt. Remains recovered in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge area, east of Ajo, AZ.

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ML11-01438
Male, 20 - 35
Hispanic / Latino
Probable Year of Death: 2011
Found: July 23, 2011, 9:33 AM
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Days
Not Recognizable -- Decomposing / Putrefaction
GPS Coordinates: N 32° 44.300' / W 111° 57.844'
Papago, AZ

Clothing with Body: black belt; orange shirt; black pants; pair of plaid boxers; pair of black socks; pair of black and white shoes.

The decedent was found in the desert by the US Border Patrol of the Tohono O'odham Reservation. No identification media was found.

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ML10-01276
Male, 34-50
Hispanic / Latino
Probable Year of Death: 2010
Found: June 25, 2010
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Months
Not Recognizable – Near Complete or Complete Skeleton
GPS Coordinates: N 31° 21.921’ / W 110° 39.304’
Patagonia, AZ

Clothing with Body: pair of plaid boxer-style underpants; 2 pairs of blue denim jeans; long-sleeved pullover shirt – brand ‘Gap Body’; short-sleeved t-shirt – brand ‘Bosini’; pair of black socks; black jacket – brand ‘St. John’s Bay’; dark colored heavy hooded zip up jacket (the front of the jacket has the numbers ‘8’ and ‘4’ and below them ‘1984’); pair of black boots – brand ‘Timberland’; cloth and bead bracelet on the right wrist.

Skeletal remains found by a rancher on his property near Patagonia, Arizona. With the remains was a black wallet with a Mexican identification card that reads ‘Juan Bosco Hernandez Gomez'.

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ML09-01182
Male, 25-33
Hispanic / Latino
Probable Year of Death: 2009
Found: June 6, 2009, 11:55 PM
Estimated Postmortem Interval: Hours Recognizable Face
State Route 82 near MP 35.5
Sonoita, AZ

Clothing on Body: ‘Boxer’ brand jeans – size 28; brown belt with metal buckle; purple-blue ‘Wrangler’ brand jeans; black hooded jacket with blue plaid lining; fleece pullover hooded shirt; blue and white sleeveless ‘Adidas’ brand shirt; green and black briefs – size small; black t-shirt; black socks; ‘Caterpillar’ brand boots.

Decedent was an occupant ejected from a van during a motor vehicle accident (MVA), in which seven other deaths occurred. The other seven individuals were identified as migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico.