By Mary O’KEEFE

Members of the Montrose Search and Rescue team found the body of a teacher from the Los Angeles Unified School District at Big Tujunga Canyon mile marker 6.6 on Sunday at 8:40 a.m.

Team members were training in the area when they discovered Rigoberto Ruelas, 39.

“The team discovered a [Ruelas’] vehicle parked near the bridge and then discovered the body,” said Sgt. Ken Binkley, Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Ruelas was pronounced dead at the scene by team members who are trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), as well as one member is a medical doctor and another is a registered nurse, Binkley said.

“This is an apparent suicide until further examination,” said Lt. Fred Corral, watch commander at the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office.

Ruelas was a teacher at Miramonte Elementary School in South Gate.  He had reportedly arranged for a substitute to cover his classroom for Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 20-21) but did not show up for school on Wednesday.