Mexican nationals found murdered in vacant field

SAN BERNARDINO — A pair of men in their 40s were found dead in a vacant field in which they sometimes slept. The murders, say police, took place on Sunday behind a strip mall on Waterman Avenue near Third Street in San Bernardino.

“This is the second double homicide this year,” said Sgt. Dave Dillon of the San Bernardino Police Department.

A minister from a local church discovered the men after 11 a.m. on Sunday when he arrived at the field to invite homeless people to attend church.

“Some of the homeless people sometimes set up camp in the vacant field,” Dillon said. He said the men, ages 41 and 44, had blunt-force injuries to the upper torso. “We haven’t notified any next-of-kin,” Dillon said, “so we can’t give out their names just yet.”

That could take awhile since both men are Mexican nationals in the country illegally. The two victims had previously attended the church, according to Dillon.

Dillon said the men collected cans to earn money. They were likely killed on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. It was unknown if they had been robbed.

Some 21 murders have taken place in San Bernardino so far this year, said Dillon, who added that 22 killings had been committed by this time last year.