Transmountain ‘suspicious death’ victim was in U.S. illegally, police trying to find family

El Paso police said Friday that the victim of a “suspicious death” whose body was found along Transmountain Road was in the U.S. illegally, and they were still trying to find the man’s relatives.

The body of Arnulfo Apodaca Gonzalez, who is believed to be in his late 50s or early 60s, was discovered Monday afternoon on federal land along Transmountain Road near mile marker 19.

“It is believed that Gonzalez was in the U.S. illegally and is known to have had links to Kansas, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico, mostly in Albuquerque,” said Sgt. Enrique Carrillo. “Gonzalez used various combinations of the name including Garcia and other alias last names, dates of birth and social security card numbers.”

Carillo did not reveal a cause of death for Gonzalez, but said detectives were “attempting to locate next of kin and anyone who may have information about him or known associates.”

Police asked that anyone with information call the EPPD’s Crimes Against Persons unit at (915) 212-4040 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-8477.

KVIA 2019