Nearly a decade after an Iowa man vanished during a winter storm, investigators finally uncovered the tragic circumstances behind his disappearance—after his body was discovered in a place few would ever think to look.
On the evening of November 28, 2009, 25-year-old Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada ran barefoot out of his family’s home in Council Bluffs, Iowa, during a powerful blizzard and was never seen again. His sudden disappearance left his family and the community searching for answers for years.
According to reports from outlets including CNN, Murillo-Moncada had returned home after working a Thanksgiving shift at the local supermarket where he was employed. His family later said he appeared distressed and was acting irrationally shortly before he fled the house.
His mother recalled that he believed someone was following him and that he was frightened. Concerned relatives reported him missing the following day, launching a search effort that ultimately went cold.
For nearly ten years, there were no clear clues about what had happened.
Then in 2019, contractors working inside the supermarket—identified as a No Frills Supermarket in Council Bluffs—made a shocking discovery. While removing refrigeration units during renovations, workers found human remains in a narrow gap behind one of the store’s large coolers.
Authorities later confirmed the remains belonged to Murillo-Moncada.
Investigators believe he entered the store after hours and somehow climbed on top of the refrigeration unit. The equipment was positioned close to a wall, leaving a tight space behind it. Officials concluded that he likely fell into the gap and became trapped, unable to escape or call for help.
The area where he fell was difficult to access and largely hidden from view. The loud hum of the refrigeration units also meant any noise or calls for help would have been nearly impossible for employees or customers to hear.
After years of uncertainty, the discovery finally provided Murillo-Moncada’s family with long-awaited answers about his disappearance—though the tragic circumstances remain a sobering reminder of how easily a person can vanish without explanation.
