ARIZONA NEWS

Tattoo helps police ID body found in Glendale backyard as missing Queen Creek teenager

Jun 27, 2024, 1:12 PM

Sketch of what human remains found in Glendale may have looked like, including a drawing of a tatto...

A tattoo artist’s tip helped police identify human remains found in a Glendale backyard on June 8, 2024, as missing Queen Creek teenager Sean Barragan-Springgay. (Glendale Police Sketch, Photo via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

(Glendale Police Sketch, Photo via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

PHOENIX – A tattoo artist’s tip helped police identify a body found in a Glendale backyard recently as a missing Queen Creek teenager, authorities announced Thursday.

Sean Barragan-Springgay, 16, was last seen in October 2023. His remains were found behind a home near Cactus Road and 51st Avenue on June 8, the Glendale Police Department said.

“It is believed that the body was there in the yard all of that time,” Jose Miguel Santiago, a city of Glendale spokesman, said in a media advisory.

Santiago added that the teen’s death appears to be self-inflicted.

How tattoo helped confirm identity of body found in Glendale backyard

Police circulated a sketch Wednesday of what the victim may have looked like, including drawings of a tattoo and a dental pattern.

“We are awaiting autopsy results to make sure for 100% certainty that the individual is who we believe it to be,” Santiago said. “Currently, we are comfortable sharing that the tip came from the person who drew the tattoo.”

Although authorities are waiting for the medical examiner’s final report to officially name the victim, the information released Thursday matched Barragan-Springgay’s description on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website.

In addition, Santiago wrote, “Yes, that is who we believe it to be,” in response to an email asking if he could confirm that it was Barragan-Springgay.

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Tattoo helps police ID body found in Glendale backyard as missing Queen Creek teenager