Dead man with AK-47 found in Vekol Valley

Pinal County deputies have discovered the body of a man believed to be an illegal immigrant less than 20 miles from the city of Maricopa.

 

According to a release issued late Friday by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, a U.S. Bureau of Land Management ranger located the corpse last Monday south of I-8 in the area known as the Vekol Valley.

 

The ranger came upon the body when he was in the area helping the U.S. Border Patrol track a group of suspects carrying backpacks believed to be full of drugs.

 

The deceased Hispanic man was found laying face down on top of a loaded AK-47 assault rifle. According to Sheriff’s Department spokesman Tim Gaffney, he appeared to have been dead for at least one week.

 

The cause of death is currently unknown.