Missing 86-Year-Old Grandmother Found Dead In Mojave Desert

MORONGO BASIN, CA — Human remains found earlier this month in a remote area of the Inland Empire's high desert are confirmed to be those of a missing 86-year-old woman, and her cause of death is under investigation.

The body discovered shortly after 5 p.m. on May 19 in the Morongo Basin belonged to Lorraine Bird, a resident of Twentynine Palms. She was found off Highway 247 near a large group of boulders in the Mojave Desert's Johnson Valley, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Bird was reported missing by her family on May 13.

In a GoFundMe page that states it was established to help pay for Bird's funeral expenses, the poster, who identified as Bird's grandchild, wrote, "My grandma, Lorraine Bird, went missing just before Mother’s Day. She left and told us she was going to a friend's house in Apple Valley. When Mother’s Day rolled around and we couldn’t reach her, we got worried. We started calling all friends and family, and nothing. We put a missing persons/silver alert out. We still don’t have all the details, but grandma's body was found shoved in between the graffiti rocks up the 247. Her car and personal belongings have not been found."

The county coroner is working to determine Bird's cause and manner of death.

After Bird was reported missing, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department released photos of Bird and her silver Mercedes-Benz sedan. The image of Bird shows her smiling, holding a bouquet of red flowers.

Anyone with information about Bird's disappearance and/or death is asked to contact San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Eric Rebollar, Specialized Investigations Division, at 909-890-4904. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.