Families have been given notice that their missing loved ones have been found deceased.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – Families have been notified that the bodies recovered in a shallow grave in Thunderbird Mobile Estates on Saturday belong to Sabrena Martin, 22, of Safford, and Rueben Nicholas Morales, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Both Martin and Morales were last seen alive in January.
On Friday, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office received information that advised of two bodies being buried in Thunderbird Mobile Estates and that they belonged to Martin and Morales. The area had been previously searched back when the pair went missing, but nothing was found at that time.
The bodies were recovered Saturday and were taken for a forensic examination by the Pima County Office of Medical Examiner in Tucson.
On Monday, Martin’s sister set up a Facebook fundraiser for a memorial service for Martin. Click here to be directed to the fundraiser.
The ongoing investigation is being treated as a double homicide, and authorities reportedly are following up with leads regarding a suspect.
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner finished autopsies of the bodies and concluded both victims died from gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
This article was updated Wednesday, Aug. 28.
