Cause of death still unknown in death of woman found in desert near Pahrump

PAHRUMP VALLEY TIMES

11 years ago

Margay Edwards, 27, of Los Osos, California, was last seen alive on Sept. 13, 2014, in Pahrump. Her decomposed body was discovered Sept. 25, 2014, in the desert near Pahrump. A second autopsy has turned up inconclusive results for a cause of death. (Special to the Pahrump Valley Times, file)

The body of Margay Edwards, 27, of Los Osos, California, was found Sept. 25 in the desert near Pahrump. Her father said she had travel to Pahrump to visit friends. (Special to the Pahrump Valley Times, file)

A second autopsy on a 27-year-old California woman whose body was found in the desert near Pahrump in September has turned up inconclusive results for a cause of death.

The death of Margay Kim Edwards was classified as undetermined with no criminal involvement, according to a report released this week by the Nye County Sheriff’s Department. The University of North Texas conducted the latest autopsy.

The university is a forensic consultant with the Clark County coroner’s office, which conducted the initial autopsy.

Edwards’ decomposing body was found Sept. 25 by all-terrain vehicle riders near a dirt trail outside Pahrump. Her rental car was found nine days later, stuck in a ravine and hidden by brush with a flat tire and bumper damage. Two cell phones and a computer were inside.

Footprints in Edwards’ shoe size were found leading away from the vehicle.

Investigators said Edwards, of Los Osos, Calif., last contacted her family in mid-September. Edwards’ body was released to her family Dec. 9.