An 18-year-old undocumented migrant spent two days seeking help for his father after the two men reportedly crossed into the United States from Mexico illegally looking for work.

On Jan. 21, 2010, Faustino Mendoza, 45, told his son, Senon Mendoza-Irlanda, that he was tired and needed to rest. He reportedly fell asleep and died.

At around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 Mendoza-Irlanda was able to contact a rancher on the Sopori Ranch. Deputies from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office responded to Forest Service Road 684 and the West Frontage Road in Tubac where they were directed to the body.

The body was taken to the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office in Tucson to determine a possible cause of death.

Both men were from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Lt. Raoul Rodriguez of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said this is the first reported death of an undocumented migrant in the county this year. He said that last year 25 deaths were reported in Santa Cruz County.

On Dec. 27, 2009, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting the discovery of a male body, possibly an undocumented migrant, who died in the vicinity of Cienega Creek near the Empire Ranch, 12-15 miles from State Route 83, milepost 40.

It was determined the site was in Pima County. Authorities from the Pima County Sheriff's Office responded and took over the investigation.