BLYTHE, CA – Authorities in La Paz County confirmed the grim discovery of a woman’s body, who was earlier reported missing near the small town of Blythe in California, close to the Arizona state line.
Amanda Nenigar, 26, was found by a search and rescue expert around 7:30 PM Friday in the vicinity of Cibola, Arizona, a small southwestern town in La Paz County. Her unclothed body was spotted under a tree approximately 1.5 miles away from where her car had been abandoned.
La Paz County Sheriff William Ponce expressed the heartbreak of losing the chance to find Amanda alive, extending sympathies to the grieving family. Amanda’s identification was established through a rose tattoo on her right hand.
Investigation hints at Amanda removing her clothes and seeking shelter under a tree in an attempt to stave off heat, potentially dying from exposure. Confirmation of the exact cause of death is awaited through an autopsy report. Sheriff Ponce further noted that the advanced stage of decomposition of the body suggests that she had been dead for an extended period of time.
The sheriff emphasized that time sensitivity plays a paramount role in finding someone alive, admitting that the lack of swift information hindered their rescue efforts. Amanda’s sister, Marissa Nenigar, expressed her despair, questioning the efficiency of the search.
The authorities are currently investigating the peculiar circumstances surrounding Amanda’s death and the unusual state of her abandoned vehicle. She had last been seen alive in Blythe, California, on February 28 and her car was discovered deserted roughly a week later in the rural Arizona desert.
Further information about the incident is withheld pending ongoing investigations.