Human remains found on South Mountain in Phoenix recovered after being found by hiker

PHOENIX — Human remains were recovered Wednesday after being found in a remote area of the South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix over the weekend, authorities announced.

The Phoenix Police Department said officers were called to the area of 35th Avenue and Ansell Road about 10 p.m. on Sunday after a hiker found the remains.

The next morning, about 7:30 a.m., homicide detectives were flown onto the mountain and located the remains in a remote area.

However, due to the location of the body and the weather on Monday, authorities decided to wait to move the remains off the mountain.

The body was taken down from South Mountain on Wednesday morning by police with help from park rangers, the Phoenix Fire Department and the medical examiner’s office.

The body was taken by the medical examiner’s office to the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center for evaluation.

Police said there were no signs of foul play.

No other details were released.

Other times human remains have been found on South Mountain

This is not the first time remains have been found on South Mountain.

Remains were found near a trail on the mountain in July 2024 and another body was found near the National Trail in December 2024.

A skull, which was later identified, was also found on the mountain in January 2023.

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