Juarez Death Is Still A Mystery

By Luke Phillips
So far, the death of local resident Manuel Jaurez remains a mystery.
Jaurez was found dead by staff members at the Golden West motel on Adams Avenue in El Centro on Friday, July 2.
An autopsy performed Friday, July 10 revealed that Jaurez died of asphyxiation, but police still haven’t been able to determine if Juarez was murdered or if he took his own life.
El Centro Police Commander Jeff Mason says that so far, a pathologist has ruled Juarez’s manner of death undetermined.
“We’re waiting for more test results to give a more clear picture of what went on,” Mason said.
Mason says that toxicology and other tests will be performed to help determine the manner of death, but it could be weeks before the tests yield any answers.
“The tests usually take between five and eight weeks to complete,” Mason said. “The medical examiner and pathologist are being just as careful as we are.”
Mason says that the police haven’t identified any people of interest in the death, but have interviewed and question everyone who was at the scene when the body was discovered.
“We’re confident that the people we talked to and questioned were the ones we needed to speak to,” Mason said. “We believe there are no potential witnesses we haven’t identified and interviewed.