Body found of 20-year-old Oceanside resident who disappeared in Joshua Tree National Park

A Joshua tree stands in Joshua Tree National Park one day after the park reopened after being closed for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic on May 18, 2020 in Joshua Tree National Park, California. Trails, parking lots, and some camping facilities were open although visitors were scarce today as the spread of COVID-19 continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A Joshua tree stands in Joshua Tree National Park one day after the park reopened after being closed for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic on May 18, 2020 in Joshua Tree National Park, California. Trails, parking lots, and some camping facilities were open although visitors were scarce today as the spread of COVID-19 continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Photo credit A Joshua tree stands in Joshua Tree National Park one day after the park reopened after being closed for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic on May 18, 2020 in Joshua Tree National Park, California. Trails, parking lots, and some camping facilities were open although visitors were scarce today as the spread of COVID-19 continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A body found this week in Joshua Tree National Park was that of a 20-year-old Oceanside resident who disappeared during an outing in the arid nature preserve two weekends ago, authorities reported today.

Search-and-rescue personnel looking for Joseph Alvarez Espinoza in rugged desert terrain southeast of Twentynine Palms Highway in Wonder Valley discovered his remains shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Espinoza had been missing since May 16, when his grandmother dropped him off for a hike in the national park, the agency reported. A ruling on the cause of his death was on hold pending postmortem examinations.

Featured Image Photo Credit: A Joshua tree stands in Joshua Tree National Park one day after the park reopened after being closed for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic on May 18, 2020 in Joshua Tree National Park, California. Trails, parking lots, and some camping facilities were open although visitors were scarce today as the spread of COVID-19 continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)