April 15, 2025 – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has identified a body that was located along the Pajaro River levee west of 
the Bridge that connects the community of Pajaro to the City of Watsonville.
On April 10th, 2025, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office detectives received information leading them to believe there was a possible body that had been buried along the Pajaro River levee. Detectives responded and located a body that had been buried in the general area described.
On April 14th, 2025, a post-mortem forensic examination was performed. This examination revealed details that now lead detectives to investigate this incident as a homicide.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner division was able to identify the subject as 36-year-old Jesus Alfonso Duarte Figueroa of Watsonville. Duarte Figueroa had been previously reported as a missing person in Santa Cruz County and information from that report was used to identify him.
We continue to ask anyone with information that may be related to this incident, to contact Monterey County Sheriff’s Detective Arras Wilson at 831-597-1225 or Detective Sergeant Nicholas Kennedy at 831-755-3773 or 831-597-1228. Information can be provided anonymously.
Source: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office