Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada’s parents reported him missing in November 2009 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. At the time, his mother, Ana Moncada, revealed that her 25-year-old son had been experiencing disorientation and hearing voices before he vanished. In response, doctors prescribed him anti-depressants. Initially, his parents assumed that he had become upset and run away from home, leading search efforts to be conducted more generally.
Maria Stockton, a translator for his mother, shared her perspective on the situation. According to her, he was experiencing auditory hallucinations that instructed him to consume sugar. Additionally, he believed that by following this instruction, his heart rate would decrease.
Authorities searched extensively for Murillo-Moncada but were unsuccessful in finding any trace of him for a decade until January.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, the body has been identified by the police. Former employees have revealed that workers would frequently climb on top of the cooler, as it was used as a storage area. Additionally, workers would occasionally hide in the gap between the cooler and the wall when they wanted to take an unofficial break.
According to Weddum, there were no signs of trauma on the body, leading them to conclude that the death was accidental. It is believed that Murillo-Moncada fell into the confined space and was unable to escape. The noise from the cooler’s compressors would have masked any attempts he made to call for help.
It is possible that Murillo-Moncada’s body remained in the store for seven years while it was still operational.
The police confirmed his identity using his parents’ DNA and matched the clothes he was wearing when he went missing.