A 19-year-old is killed while on a family outing
On June 17, 1989, 19-year-old Andrew Elam was tragically killed in Cathedral City, California. Andrew, who had recently completed his freshman year at California State University and was described as an exceptionally bright young man, had been jogging with his parents in the San Jacinto Mountains. The family planned to run along the trails, but Andrew decided to return to their car, which was parked along Highway 74 near the Pacific Crest Trail. When his parents returned to the vehicle later, they found the car had been broken into, and Andrew was missing. The situation quickly escalated into a nightmare as Andrew’s body was found approximately six hours later in a brushy area a quarter mile from the trailhead (sources: Defrosting Cold Cases, Uncovered).
Investigators believe that Andrew may have interrupted a burglary in progress when he returned to the car. The left rear tire of the family’s vehicle had been punctured, and several personal items, including a purse, car keys, and a garage door opener, were missing. Andrew’s cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. Despite a thorough search, no weapon was found near the scene, and the identity of the person or persons responsible remains unknown. The tragic events took away a promising young man described by family and friends as hardworking and full of potential (sources: Defrosting Cold Cases, Uncovered, KESQ).
Since the time of Andrew’s murder, his family has tirelessly sought justice. Andrew's father, Billy Dean, has revisited the scene in recent years as part of his efforts to keep the memory of his son alive. Despite the passage of over 25 years, advances in forensic technology have provided renewed hope that some of the physical evidence preserved from the scene could one day lead to identifying the suspect. Cold case detectives continue to work on the case, reviewing evidence and hoping to find a breakthrough that could finally provide answers to the Elam family (sources: Defrosting Cold Cases, KESQ).
The case remains unsolved, and Andrew’s family, alongside the investigators, are still hopeful for any information that could help solve this tragic mystery. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Homicide Hotline (951) 955-2777.
