Inyo County Sheriff’s Office press release

On Friday April 1st Inyo County Sheriff’s Office was notified that human remains had been located near Tecopa. Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputies as well as the south-county coroner responded and transported the remains to Lone Pine.

Tuesday morning, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the south-county coroner that the remains have been positively identified as missing person James “Billy” Liles (83-year old man from Carmel, CA).

Inyo County Sheriff’s Office launched a search for Mr. Liles following a report that was received on the evening of March 11th that a cellular phone was found in the desert east of Tecopa (the cellular phone was identified as belonging to James “Billy” Liles). Ground teams from Inyo County Search and Rescue and BLM combed the Tecopa area, and aerial reconnaissance was provided by CHP helicopter H-80. Mr. Liles was not located and the case remained opened.

A full autopsy will be performed out of county to determine cause of death. The Sheriff’s Office is still asking the public to please contact us at760-878-0383 if anyone has any information that may assist us in this case.

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