Law enforcement officials are looking for additional victims after two bodies were found on Tuesday in a remote area of Lancaster, California, a small city about 70 miles north of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Discovery during missing persons case
Authorities found the bodies in a shallow grave while they were investigating a missing persons case, according to KTLA. Outside of the sheriff’s department investigating the discovery of the remains as a homicide, little is known about the two people who were found in the shallow grave.
Ongoing search at the scene
On Wednesday, KTLA’s helicopter captured authorities and staff with the medical examiner’s office digging in new areas near where the bodies were found.
Lancaster is a city of just over 170,000 people, according to the most recent census data. Like much of the nation, Lancaster has seen a substantial decrease in homicides, with killings declining by 35% between 2024 and 2025, according to the city.
The Los Angeles sheriff’s department did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s request for comment on the case. This story was amended on 1 October 2026. An earlier version reported that Lancaster is an unincorporated city and it is incorporated.
