The bodies of a couple who went missing back in July were discovered last week at the Joshua Tree National Park in California, USA. But now, new details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths have been released.
The bodies of 20-year-old Rachel Nguyen and 21-year-old Joseph Orbeso, who disappeared while on a hiking trip in the park on July 28th, were reported to have been found 'locked in an embrace', indicating they perished together. And according to the Associated Press, it's now thought that the pair died in a 'sympathetic murder-suicide'.
Autopsies carried out on the young couple's bodies revealed both had fatal gunshot wounds. Evidence found at the scene led authorities to believe Joseph shot Rachel before turning the gun on himself. It's thought the couple may have made a pact to end their lives after having struggled to survive for several days in exceedingly high temperatures with very little food and water - the scene surrounding the bodies suggested they had been rationing food, and had no water.
The Orange County Register reports the autopsies also indicated the pair had battled the elements prior to their deaths. The bodies were found under a tree with clothing arranged to cover their legs, protecting them from the sun.
The gun found at the scene was registered to Joseph Orbeso, who worked as a security guard, reports the Associated Press. It's believed he may have brought the gun with him on the trip as a means of protecting himself and Rachel.
"They had a choice of a slow and painful death or a quick death. And they made the choice of a quick death," Joseph's friend Austin Young told The Orange County Register.
The couple had been reported missing back in July after they failed to check out of the Airbnb they were renting close to the National Park, which is famed for its mesmerising desert landscapes and its iconic spiked trees. The car Rachel and Joseph had been driving was located by police near a popular hiking trail called the Maze Loop shortly after the alarm was raised.
But despite this, and with the help of rescue crews, no trace of the pair had been found until last week. A fundraising page had been set up to help find them, which aided the search attended by Joseph's father, Gilbert Orbeso, where they found the remains of the young couple.
It's believed Rachel and Joseph must have got lost on the hike, leading to their tragic demise. George Land, a spokesman for Joshua Tree National Park, told the Orange County Register the tracks that were found indicated Rachel and Joshua were indeed lost.
"The way the tracks were picked up indicate these people could be walking in circles, which is not uncommon when people are lost," he said.
Tragically, the couple had gone on the trip to celebrate Rachel's birthday. "I hope that they can rest in peace now," Joseph's father, Gilbert, said.
Additional reporting from Associated Press.
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Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. news, features and health. The route to her heart is a simple combination of pasta and cheese (somewhat ironic considering the whole health writing thing), and she finds it difficult to commit to TV series so currently has about 14 different ones on the go.
