
Luna County Sheriff’s Captain Jose Martinez said the agents initially thought the girl was hiding from them under a mesquite bush approximately 15 miles east of Columbus, but then discovered she had probably been dead for several days.
Martinez said medical investigators determined the girl was between 13 and 17 years old.
She had been wearing camouflage clothing and had no identification on her.
Martinez said there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body.
He added that rain washed away any tracks, so they could not determine if she had been travelling with other immigrants.
The body was turned over to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for an autopsy and identification.