Body of Missing Shafter Man David Mireles Discovered Near Main Jail Thursday Afternoon

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The body of David Mireles, a 53-year-old Shafter man missing since last week, was discovered Thursday of this week outside of the Santa Barbara County Jail.

On Aug. 27, around 2:50 p.m., a custody staff member reached out to Sheriff's dispatchers after discovering what appeared to be a person underneath some brush next to the Main Jail Administration building stated a press release Friday from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

First responders confirmed the person was deceased and the Sheriff's Office Coroner's detective responded to the scene shared the local law enforcement agency.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, the person was identified using fingerprint analysis as 53-year-old David Mireles of Shafter.

Mireles had been missing since Thursday morning of last week after his release from Sheriff's custody following an arrest for DUI by the California Highway Patrol detailed the local sheriff's office.

Five hours after his release around 10:23 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, California Highway Patrol shared with the local sheriff's office that Mireles had been reported missing in Shafter in Kern County and deputies searched the surrounding area for the 53-year-old, but did not find him explained the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Ultimately, Mireles was found down a hillside adjacent to the end of the walkway in front of the Main Jail Administration building, on a downward slope toward Honor Farm Road, obscuring him from searching deputies detailed the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

A preliminary investigation indicates Mireles was likely at the location since shortly after his release added the local law enforcement agency.

At this point in the investigation into his death, Sheriff's Office investigators have discovered no indication of foul play and Mireles was considered an at-risk missing person due to multiple medical conditions explained the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Regardless, his official cause and manner of death have not been determined and are currently under investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Bureau shared the law enforcement agency.