Man's death in Salton City being treated as homicide, official says

SALTON CITY --- Imperial County Sheriff's authorities are investigating the homicide of a 27-year-old local man here whose body was found in the passenger seat of an abandoned car, a sheriff's sergeant said today.

Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Alvarez said that evidence is being recovered from the scene where Cornelio Lopez Zendejas was found inside of a white Nissan Maxima. Alvarez declined to specify how Lopez died but said that a nearby resident called authorities at about 9:23 p.m. Saturday night to let them know that the car was at its location for at least two days. News was not made public about the homicide as sheriff's authorities were conducting their investigation.

Please read Tuesday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information about this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer