Body found in ravine that of missing Escondido man
By: JO MORELAND and YVETTE URREA - Staff Writers | ∞
- ESCONDIDO ---- A man whose badly decomposed body was found Oct. 4 in a deep ravine off Lake Wohlford Road has been identified as a missing Escondido man, police said Thursday.
Detective Lt. David Mankin said the remains of 26-year-old Daniel William Parsons was identified by his thumbprints.
"This is a suspicious death," and police are investigating it as a homicide, Mankin said. "The medical examiner hasn't determined the cause of death yet."
Police have been searching for Parsons, last seen the night of Sept. 2 as he left a friend's home in the 1300 block of Date Street.
Four days after Parsons disappeared, San Diego County sheriff's deputies found his white 1992 Toyota Celica, stripped and abandoned, in a remote San Pasqual area.
"It had been ransacked, but there were no signs of foul play, blood," said Mankin.
He said detectives don't have a suspect in the case yet, but that there were fingerprints on the car.
"They have not all been analyzed," the lieutenant said.
The medical examiner hasn't been able to determine the cause of death because the body was so ravaged by decomposition after being in the ravine for so long, Mankin said. Police said animals had damaged the remains, as well.
County road crews who smelled something decaying spotted the body that morning in the 100-foot-deep ravine. Police said no identification or personal effects were found.
Mankin said there also weren't any readily available signs of trauma to the body. Medical examiner investigators had to rehydrate the dead man's thumbs to get the print that led to his identification, the lieutenant said.
Escondido police homicide Sgt. Chris Wynn said that Parson's family told police in the days after he was missing that it was very unusual for him not to be in contact with his family.
Wynn said at the time, "He checks in frequently with his family. He spends most of the day with his mom who is convalescing."
Mankin said Parsons did not have an occupation. Besides his mother, Parsons is survived by other family members, including some in Escondido.
Police are asking anyone with information to call (760) 839-4717.
Contact staff writer Jo Moreland at (760) 740-3524 or jmoreland@nctimes.com. Contact staff writer Yvette Urrea at (760) 901-4076 or yurrea@nctimes.com.
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EPD wrote on Oct 13, 2006 12:06 PM:This is another example of how fine a job the EPD do to protect the city. Need to get new cops that know how to catch the bad guy's
TERA wrote on Oct 13, 2006 2:17 PM:ITS UNBELIEVABLE THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS DANNY. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD GUY NOT ONE TO BRING PROBLEMS TO ANYONE. DANNY WE WILL ALL MISS YOU VERY MUCH AND WILL SEE YOU AGAIN IN A BETTER PLACE.
Al wrote on Oct 13, 2006 8:49 PM:Sad, sad story. That some evil person would do this to another human is simply rotten. Hope the Escondido PD catch those responsible.
JJ wrote on Oct 13, 2006 8:55 PM:Hey EPD, they're hiring. Sign up and see if you can do better. Oh, but you'll just sit there behing your screen and monday morning quarterback because you have nothing else!
Su wrote on Oct 15, 2006 6:48 PM:I am so sorry this turned out this way. My condolensces to his family and friends. Karma will find it's way to the person or people that did this.
Illegals? wrote on Oct 20, 2006 9:39 PM:Who else but illegals from Mexico, and/or Indian half-breeds from the nearby reservation would want to take the time and energy to steal and strip down a clapped-out '92 Celica? This car has practically no parts value, whatsoever!
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