How Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada Was Found In The Most Unexpected Place.

Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada was a 25-year-old supermarket worker who mysteriously disappeared in 2009. He worked at the No Frills supermarket in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where investigators later found his body a decade later behind a freezer in the now-closed supermarket.

Murillo-Moncada had apparently fallen into an 18-inch gap at the store, and the noise from the coolers likely muffled his cries for help. Investigators found no signs of foul play and ruled his death as accidental​.

Early Life and Background

Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada was a young man of Hispanic/Latino descent, born on August 22, 1984. Known also as Marlon Murillo, he was reported missing at the age of 25. Physically, Murillo-Moncada stood at a height of six feet and weighed approximately 140 lbs. He had black hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he was residing at 719 N. 14th St., Council Bluffs, IA, in Pottawattamie County​.

In terms of his background, Murillo-Moncada was known to have been struggling with mental health issues, specifically related to the side effects of an antidepressant medication he had recently started taking. On November 28, 2009, his parents reported him missing after he left their home in a distressed state, without shoes, socks, keys, personal effects, or a car, during a snowstorm.

Murillo-Moncada was an employee at the No Frill's Supermarket, located half a mile from his home, prior to his disappearance.

Investigation and Attempts to Find Murillo-Moncada

When Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada went missing on November 28, 2009, his parents promptly reported his disappearance to the police. The young man had just started a new regiment of anti-depressants, which was suspected to cause hallucinations, and was reported to be acting irrationally.

His mother reported that he had left their home in a state of panic, without a coat or shoes, and wearing only a pair of blue jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Law enforcement officers contacted family members, other law enforcement agencies, nearby detention centers, and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in an attempt to find him. The family also took it upon themselves to check with acquaintances and post flyers at businesses they frequently visited. However, despite their efforts, they received no information regarding his possible whereabouts.

Discovery of Remains

On January 24, 2019, the remains of Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada were discovered in a supermarket where he had worked, behind a freezer, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, during the dismantling of shelves in the now-closed store.

Murillo-Moncada had apparently fallen into an 18-inch gap at the No Frills supermarket, where the noise from the coolers likely muffled his cries for help. The freezer behind which he fell was about 12 feet tall. Former employees of No Frills mentioned that it was not unusual for workers to climb on top of the freezers to stock goods.

The remains were so decomposed that positive identification was not immediately possible. However, the blue clothing found on the body matched the description provided by his parents. DNA from his parents was used for identification and the post-mortem examination confirmed the identity last week following the discovery.

The autopsy conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation showed no signs of trauma and his death was ruled accidental.

Authorities had conducted a thorough search for Murillo-Moncada following his disappearance, even contacting various law enforcement agencies and detention centers.

The area where his body was found was known to be an unofficial hangout spot by colleagues and was primarily used as storage space. It took a decade to find him at his workplace, with nobody aware of his tragic end until the decommissioning of the store.