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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Desert death toll spiking

Associated Press

PHOENIX – The number of deaths among illegal immigrants crossing the Arizona desert from Mexico is soaring so high this month that the medical examiner’s office that handles the bodies is using a refrigerated truck to store some of them, the chief examiner said Friday.

The bodies of 40 illegal immigrants have been brought to the office of Pima County Medical Examiner Dr. Bruce Parks since July 1. At that rate, Parks said, the deaths could top the single-month record of 68 in July 2005.

Authorities believe the high number of deaths is likely due to above-average and unrelenting heat in southern Arizona this month and ongoing tighter border security that pushes immigrants to more remote, rugged and dangerous terrain.