$10K Reward Offered To Find Killer Of Hiker Gerald 'Myles' Purdue; Body Was Left In Culvert On Mt. Baldy
MONTEREY PARK (CBSLA) — LA County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward on Friday for information leading to the arrest of whoever killed Gerald "Myles" Purdue on Mt. Baldy last month.
Purdue, 63, of San Bernardino, was found shot to death at Mile Marker 3.09 Mount Baldy Road, North of Claremont, just before 2 p.m. on March 25. He is survived by an adult son and daughter who do not live in the area.
Two people who had stopped in the same turnout found the body in a culvert less than 60 yards from where Purdue's car was parked.
"We knew something wasn't right because you see someone laying on the ground," a woman who found the body, along with her boyfriend, told CBSLA's Nicole Comstock. "We didn't know where he was from, we didn't know anything. All we knew is that he died here by himself. And no one was there to help him."
The shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, with no other shootings reported in the area in the past six months, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Barry Hall, who also added a warning to other hikers.
"The Sheriff's Department would urge those hiking in the Mt. Baldy area to use caution. And certainly don't approach anyone you find who may be armed," Hall said.
Currently, investigators have no suspects or motive in the shooting. However, investigators are particularly interested in a dark-colored, four-door sedan that was seen parked behind Purdue's car, just before the body was found.
Purdue walked with a cane due to a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis his children told CBSLA, but he was still an avid hiker who frequented Mt. Baldy. His son said he spoke to Purdue just days before his death, and they both said that many of their childhood memories of their father were of time spent walking along Mt. Baldy Road.
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the shooting can contact sheriff's detectives O'Brien or Dimmitt at (323) 890-5500.
