Search continues for Arizona resort worker whose vehicle was caught in floodwaters

The search operation continues for a man whose vehicle was caught in floodwaters north of the Phoenix area last weekend, authorities said Thursday night.

Benny Sutton Jr., an employee at the Castle Hot Springs Resort in Morristown, went missing Sunday night, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

His vehicle was located submerged in floodwaters in a wash about 2 miles south of the resort about 11 p.m.

A Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew that had just completed a separate rescue responded to the area and lowered a rescuer onto the roof of the vehicle, but there was no sign of Sutton.

Search efforts were limited to the air until the floodwaters receded Monday. Crews have since searched the wash down to Lake Pleasant without finding Sutton, although they have discovered possible minor clues, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

The wash is now completely dry, allowing searchers to drive and walk through the area. The waterway was estimated at 200 feet wide and 6-8 feet deep at the peak of the flooding.

The multi-agency search operation includes the following resources:

• Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Jeep Posse, ground searchers and drone operators.
• Verde Search and Rescue.
• Coconino County Search and Rescue.
• Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office swift-water rescue operators and air support.
• Specialty K-9 teams.

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