BOISE, Idaho — In October 2023, hundreds of community members gathered to pay tribute to Cesar Sandoval, from Caldwell, Idaho, whose death remains a mystery.
After nearly a year, Sandoval's family spoke with KTVB. His sister Esperanza said, "he was happy. He loved his family. He loved his kids.”
His mom, Antonia Sandoval, said, "My son was always happy and a hard worker."
But they said they have questions about his death that remain unanswered to this day.
"That day, we were at a family party, and when I left, my son was fine,” Antonia said.
Esperanza said after he left the family party, he never made it home.
According to the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), at 1 a.m. on October 1, 2023. They received a 'Man down' call near the 10th Avenue and Homedale Road intersection.
Caldwell Police Department (CPD) officers were the first responders on the scene. CPD said officers found Cesar lying on the side of the road in need of immediate medical care.
"What we know of his injuries. He did sustain blunt force trauma to his head,” Esperanza said.
Cesar was taken to the hospital, where he died several days later.
"All we know is whatever happened there. It resulted in his death,” Esperanza said.
The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into Cesar’s death. The office told KTVB it is still an active case, but his family isn’t satisfied with that.
"We don't want him to be forgotten, and we don't want, especially, we don't want him to be treated as a Mexicano, Latino who was found in the street,” Esperanza said.
The family has questions for law enforcement, which they say are not being answered. One is why officers never collected Cesar’s cell phone for evidence since it was on him the night of the incident.
Esperanza said to this day, they don't know anything.
The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and the Caldwell Police Department declined KTVB's request for an interview but provided written statements.
“The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was not the agency responsible for returning the cell phone to his daughter. The initial responding agency returned the phone to his daughter at the scene. Furthermore, CCSO was not involved in the investigation until approximately ten (10) hours after the incident occurred when the initial responding agency determined that it happened outside their jurisdiction and contacted CCSO to take over the case.”
Caldwell Police said the first officers on the scene believed they were assisting with a medical call, so when they were finished using the phone to confirm Cesar’s identity, they gave it to his daughter.
“CPD officers responded to a man down call and found Cesar Sandoval laying on the side of the road in need of medical care. While trying to figure out who he was, they answered his phone. His daughter showed up a short time later and also identified him. At that point, the officers believed this was a medic assist call for an accident, so when they were done looking at Cesar’s phone for identification purposes they gave it to his daughter. A while later CCSO became involved when the incident was determined to be in their jurisdiction. By then the phone was out of police custody.”
Once CCSO determined the incident was within the sheriff’s office's jurisdiction and started an investigation, the phone was already out of police custody.
KTVB spoke to a Forensic Expert Tiffany Roy, to find out what is common practice in a case like Cesar's.
KTVB's Brenda Rodriguez asked, “What are police and detectives looking for when they arrive at a scene like this?"
Roy responded, “I think one of the first things that they would be looking for is his cell phone. And you can get a lot of information from somebody's cell about where they have been, who they spoke to last, maybe who they were with."
The sheriff’s office said they won’t discuss evidence since this is an ongoing investigation.
"I think it would be incumbent on the last agency, on the sheriff's office, to make sure that all the evidence was collected, tagged and bagged,” said Roy.
In a phone call, Cesar’s daughter told KTVB she still has his cell phone.
Brenda asked Roy, “Is it too late to receive that cell phone and turn it in as evidence?"
Roy responds, "No, I don't think it is. I absolutely believe that the police should have that phone in custody."
Roy said a missing piece of evidence, such as Cesar’s phone, could prevent a case like his from being solved.
“It’s very difficult to solve some crimes when you have very little information. It's very important evidence. There is information in the phone, whether or not it could help the investigation is something that you can't tell until you look,” Roy said.
While CCSO continues searching for answers, this grieving family said they hold out hope they will one day know what happened to Cesar.
"I would just say that I love him, and I would give him a big hug,” Esperanza said.
"I love him, the whole family does, and we are missing you so much,” Antonia said.