FBI offering reward to help identify John 'Little Zion' Doe, slain boy found off trail near Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — The FBI is offering $10,000 for help identifying John "Little Zion" Doe, a boy whose body was found last week by hikers off trail near Las Vegas. 

The boy, between the ages of 8 and 10, was discovered May 28 hidden behind a bush off the main highway between Las Vegas and Pahrump. "Little Zion" is the name of a trailhead at Mountain Springs, where the body was found.

Investigators say they believe the body had been left after dark.

Over the last week, investigators have looked into several hundred tips in states including California, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Nebraska and Iowa, according to homicide Lt. Ray Spencer. This is the first time in several years the FBI has assisted Las Vegas police in identifying a body. 

Police would not release the cause of the boy's death but said it is being investigated as a murder, Spencer said.

"We have pulled a lot of video on this case," he said, "But again, we're still in a situation where we're still trying to identify him, so until we have an idea of what we're looking for, we're in preservation mode."

The boy was 4 feet, 11 inches and about 125 pounds with a gap between his teeth, Spencer said. Investigators think the boy was from somewhere in southern Nevada.  

Authorities are asking anyone who saw something unusual while driving on State Route 160 between midnight May 27 and 7 a.m. May 28 to come forward. Information about John "Little Zion" Doe's identity can be shared with agents by calling 1-800-225-5324 or visiting tips.fbi.gov. 

Contributing: Associated Press.