Monday, 10 August 2026, 13:56
Monterey County sheriff's deputies are investigating two separate discoveries of human remains on Saturday morning. One was an infant found dead along Struve Road near Moss Landing. The other involved apparent human remains found later on Old Stage Road north of Salinas.
According to ABC7 San Francisco, someone reported the infant at about 8:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Struve Road. Monterey County firefighters and paramedics responded with sheriff's deputies and pronounced the child dead at the scene. The fire agency was identified as North Monterey County Fire. CBS News confirmed first responders found the remains of an infant.
Later that same morning, at 9:55 a.m., deputies were called to the 400 block of Old Stage Road by a county employee who found apparent human remains. Officials did not release any information about the identity, age or sex of the person whose remains were found on Old Stage Road. The sheriff's office said the circumstances of both deaths were under investigation as of Saturday afternoon. The two deaths are being investigated separately and are not believed to be related.
The discoveries occurred about 90 minutes apart, and the two locations are roughly 17 miles apart, though sheriff's officials later described the distance as about 20 miles. Officials described the discoveries as separate incidents, but it was unclear whether investigators believe the cases could be connected. "Detectives are actively working these incidents and there are no additional details at this time," Monterey County Sheriff's Office Commander Andres Rosas told SFGATE on Monday.
Additional details from the sheriff's office identified the first location as Struve Road and Highway 1 and the second as Old Stage Road near Herbert Road. The first call was logged just after 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, and fire personnel confirmed the infant was dead at the scene. Officials said they are not sharing any further details at this time.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office released photos of a vehicle that may be connected to the infant's death. The vehicle is described as a beige 2010 Mercury Milan four-door sedan with California license plate 6HCR883. The sedan has been located and recovered by investigators, but deputies want to hear from anyone who saw it or spoke with anyone inside it on Saturday or Sunday, especially near Struve Road, surrounding communities, or Salinas.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said the recovered car is now considered a key piece of evidence in the search for the person or persons who left a deceased newborn next to a strawberry field.
Deputies also ask anyone with dash camera, surveillance, or other video footage that could help investigators to come forward. Information can be sent to Detective Sgt. Nicholas Kennedy at 831-755-3773 or Detective Richard Geng at 831-759-7279. Anyone providing information can remain anonymous.
Moss Landing is an unincorporated coastal community in Monterey County, north of the Monterey Bay and close to Highway 1. Struve Road sits in a rural, agricultural part of the county. Old Stage Road is also in a rural area north of Salinas, the county seat. The discoveries have drawn attention because of their proximity to each other and the involvement of an infant. Local residents may have seen the vehicle or people acting unusually over the weekend.
The sheriff's office routinely investigates unattended deaths in unincorporated Monterey County, but two separate remains discoveries on the same day are highly unusual. Authorities have not said whose remains were found on Old Stage Road. Autopsy results and forensic work are expected to play a key role in both investigations.
As of Monday, no causes of death or information about possible criminal activity had been released.
The sheriff's office has not released the infant's name, age or gender, or disclosed a suspected cause of death. Officials also have not said how long the body may have been beside the road or whether investigators believe the infant died at that location.
The investigation is active and public help is needed. Anyone with information about the infant found on Struve Road or the remains found on Old Stage Road should contact the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Tips can be directed to the detectives listed above. In addition, the sheriff's office can be reached at 831-755-3700.
