Tips Sought In Cold Case Murder In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — Authorities sought the public's help Monday in identifying a murder victim whose body was found nearly 40 years ago next to a roadway in San Diego County.

The man's body was found around noon Oct. 26, 1985, down a steep slope alongside the north side of state Route 22, between mile post markers 37 and 38, in the Borrego Springs area, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

"The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition," Lt. Michael Krugh said. "The victim had sustained trauma and the Medical Examiner determined the manner of death as homicide. The cause of death is not being released for investigative reasons."

No identification was found on the victim, Krugh said. He was wearing blue jeans, a light-colored pullover shirt and black combat boots. The man's left forearm had tattoos of a wolf howling at a red moon and the word "Life" or "Wife." The man's upper right arm was tattooed with the name "Linda" and right forearm had the word "Gypsy," the latter half of which was not legible.

"The sheriff's Homicide Unit continues to review this case, and it remains under active investigation," Krugh said.

Anyone with information about this case was asked to contact the department's Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or after hours at 858-565-5200, or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.