Search intensifies for couple missing south of Phoenix

Authorities and volunteers were searching a remote area south of Phoenix for a missing couple.

BY KTAR NEWSROOM

Jun 24, 2015, 8:09 AM Updated: Jun 26, 2015, 12:52 pm

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PHOENIX — Authorities and volunteers were searching a remote area south of Phoenix on Wednesday for a missing couple.

Tina and Michael Careccia left their home in Maricopa for work around 5 a.m. Monday and haven’t been seen or heard from since, a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

The couple’s car was found Monday near Ralston and Papago roads just a mile from their home.

Volunteer searcher Harry Hughes has been among those combing a 100-square-mile area of open desert, farm fields and pecan orchards about 10 miles south of Maricopa.

“What’s strange is that you vanish about a mile from home. We’re at two days now and it seems peculiar about what happened,” Hughes said.

Authorities described Michael Careccia, 44, as 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds
with black hair and brown eyes.

Tina Careccia, 42, is 5-foot-8, 140 pounds with blonde hair.

The family is offering up to $3,000 in reward money for information that will help find the couple and Silent Witness is offering an additional $1,000.

KTAR’s Jim Cross and the Associated Press contributed to this report.