On Wednesday, November 21, 2012 a property manager to an orchard near Atwater, CA in Merced County found the body of 21 year old Bryan Sanchez, also of Atwater, CA, near a burn pile. The Orchard was located near South Hwy 59 and Dickensen Ferry Rd.

Sanchez was a missing person who had last been seen at his mother’s house in Atwater on November 16. He was also seen that same day at an apartment complex on Broadway and 1st street.

Police believe he had been in the Orchard for 5 days. He was identified with DNA. An autopsy lists his cause of death as gunshots. The Merced Sheriff’s Department considers Sanchez’s death a homicide.

Despite working through Thanksgiving of 2012, and continuing to follow up on leads, the Merced County Sheriff’s have not given a motive for the crime.

Bryan Sanchez was 21 years old at the time of his murder. He was the youngest of six siblings and lived with his sister and her family in Merced, CA. Sanchez’s family believe he may have been taken advantage of by someone preying on his developmental disabilities. According to the family, he had the mental capacity of a teenager and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and social anxiety that kept him from having contact with many people.

His family continues to search for justice in this case and for any information which might lead to information about his murder. They miss him very much.

Sanchez was an avid runner and had dreams of becoming a pro-football player.

If you have any information on the murder of Bryan Sanchez please contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Department at 209-385-7472.