John Doe found in Llano identified as missing Hacienda Heights man

A man who was fatally shot in the head and dumped in a remote part of Llano has been identified as a 43-year-old who was reported missing in early April, authorities said.

The family of Manuel Gonzalo Lopez reported him missing on April 9, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza.

Recreational shooters spotted Lopez's decomposing body on April 19 on the side of the road off 233rd Street East, north of Highway 18.

He was identified by his fingerprints, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of investigations for the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Lopez was married with children, Mendoza said, and as far as investigators know, had no reason to be in Llano, a rural area east of Palmdale.

"The area is so isolated ... there's nothing there," Mendoza said. "We believe he was purposely taken there, but whether he was shot there or somewhere else first, we don't know."

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.