Body of Missing Executive Found at Palm Desert Resort

A body was found today at the J.W. Marriott resort in Palm Desert, where authorities have been searching for a missing Los Angeles finance executive, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

KMIR-TV reported late today that the family had confirmed the body was 33-year-old Omar Arce Meza, who was last seen in the area around 11 p.m. Jan. 8, but sheriff’s officials have not yet identified the body.

Sheriff’s officials said only that the body was found in the 74800 block of Country Club Drive, where the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa is located.

Crews have been scouring the resort grounds for four days with dive teams and search dogs in hopes of finding Meza, a vice president for AIG Financial Distributors. Meza had traveled to the Coachella Valley on business. Business clients, friends and family all took part in the search effort.

Meza’s wife, Diane, said she spoke to her husband around 11:20 p.m. Jan. 8, as he left a dinner with colleagues in Palm Desert, and he said he would call her when he returned to his room. But that call never came, she said.

Diane Meza told NBC4 his colleagues placed Meza in an Uber cab, but there may have been some confusion as to which Marriott facility he was staying at.

Mesa was reported missing around midday Friday after he failed to show up for scheduled meetings that morning.

The search was taken up by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Saturday, Sheriff’s Sgt. Tom Brewster said. Desert Search and Rescue members with bloodhounds scoured the surrounding area without success, he said.

--City News Service

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