Dead body found on South Mountain trail in Phoenix identified

Police identified the man who was found dead Saturday on a South Mountain trail in Phoenix.

The 911 caller told a dispatcher that Richard Fletcher, 61, left around 5 a.m. and contact was lost around 2 p.m. when his phone’s battery ran out, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Officers responded around 5:12 p.m. near National Trail and located Fletcher’s car at the trailhead near Pima Canyon Road.

A cyclist located Fletcher’s unresponsive body and authorities pronounced him dead.

Police said there were no immediate signs of foul play or trauma.

The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, but detectives said his condition and the scene “were consistent with a heat-related or medical event.”

Because the investigation went into the night, airlifting Fletcher’s body from the trail was postponed until Sunday morning. 

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s David Veenstra contributed to this story.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on July 25, 2026.

Related

Demolition of Food City in Tempe makes way for affordable housing, grocery developmentMark Kelly slams handling of Iran conflict, says he’s discussing potential presidential run1 in 5 Arizona adults experience gambling-related harm, state report findsHiker rescued on South Mountain trail after suffering heat-related illnessDUI suspect identified after SUV slams into parked Phoenix police vehicleRain, storms roll into Phoenix area, leaving scattered power outages across Valley