SAN DIEGO -- Dental records revealed that a body found in Joshua Tree National Park Friday is that of 17-year-old Eric Sears.

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Sears, of Carlsbad, went missing in the Riverside County park on July 15.

An autopsy Monday conducted by the Coroner's Bureau of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department in Perris, could not confirm the man's identity, nor the cause of death, due to the advanced state of the body's decomposition.

Sgt. Earl Quinata said that toxicology tests also would be conducted on the body. He said it could be several weeks before they have more answers about the boy's diappearance and death.

Quinata said Monday's examination revealed no obvious signs of trauma.

Last week, Riverside sheriff's deputies launched a criminal investigation, focusing, in part, on the friend who was hiking with Sears.

The friend's identity cannot be identified because he is a juvenile.

The friend's home was searched and several items taken to a crime lab for analysis. His family has since hired local defense attorney Brad Patton, who recently represented Richard Tuite, a man convicted of murdering 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe.

Quinata said the Riverside authorities are continuing all aspects of their investigation as they await lab tests and expert medical opinions, including whether the hallucinogen Jimson weed tea might have been ingested.