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Coroner: Cause and manner of death unknown

What killed a California woman whose body was found in the desert remains a mystery.

The Clark County coroner’s office could not determine a cause and manner of death for what killed 27-year-old Margay Kim Edwards, whose body was found in the desert near Pahrump.

Her body was found Sept. 25 by ATV rider just off a dirt trail along Hafen Ranch Road.

Her rental car was found Oct. 4, in a ravine partially hidden by brush a few miles from where her body was found. Two cellphones and a computer were found inside.

Nye County Sheriff’s Detective Joe McGill told the Associated Press on Monday that foul play remains a possibility, but that investigators are leaning away from Edwards’ death being a homicide.

On Tuesday, he also said investigators are still going through Edward’s cell phone records and a second cell phone for any leads in the case.

“It’s going to take a while for the cell phones to be analyzed, even a couple of months at least,” McGill said.

According to her father Jeff Edwards, his daughter traveled to Pahrump from southern California Sept. 12 to visit friends in Pahrump. He believes the people may hold the answer to her death.

“I believe that at a minimum, they have additional information,” Edwards said this week. “I really don’t know these individuals.”

The discovery of the body gained national attention late last month, including two segments on CNN’s “Nancy Grace.”

Edwards said he’s grateful for those who have come forward to offer support to his family as well as provide detectives with information regarding the case.

“It’s somewhat comforting to see the reaction we’ve received from the people in Pahrump,” the father said. “Detective McGill is at the top of the list. He’s been as professional as they come and I can’t thank he and the sheriff’s office enough because that’s the only thing that’s brought some comfort to me and my family.”

Edwards said his family last heard from their daughter Sept. 14, just after 8:30 a.m., when she called her parents from Pahrump. Later the same day she was spotted in her car by two local residents, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.

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