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KCSO identifies body found east of Bakersfield; investigating incident as homicide

Friends gather to remember Michael Ballesteros
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UPDATE (Feb. 11, 4:40 p.m.): The Kern County Sheriff's Office says that the body found belongs to 18-year-old Michael Ballesteros. KCSO also confirmed that Ballesteros was found on Breckenridge Road and that they are investigating the incident as a homicide.

A vigil for Ballesteros was being held on Saturday at 5 p.m. at University Park in northeast Bakersfield.

ORIGINAL: KCSO is investigating a body found east of Bakersfield in the area of Breckenridge and Comanche around 2:50 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

The male body was located near an Orange Orchard. The body had received trauma.

The body was found by a farm laborer working in the area.

Homicide detectives and the coroner were on scene.

The body had been there less than 24 hours.

Investigators do not know if the person has been dead for more than 24 hours, just that the body has been there less than 24 hours.

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