Body found at Tempe construction site confirmed as missing elderly man

PHOENIX — The body found at a Tempe construction site last week has been confirmed as an elderly man who went missing earlier this month, authorities announced Tuesday.

The person who was found dead near McClintock and Weber drives on Jan. 14 was positively identified as 91-year-old Apolonio Romero, according to the Tempe Police Department.

Romero was last seen alive around 6 p.m. on Jan. 2 near Scottsdale and Curry roads, about 1.2 miles from where his body was found almost two weeks later.

Authorities issued a SAFE Alert for Romero on Jan. 3.

Romero suffered from a medical condition that could cause him to become lost and confused easily, according to the bulletin.

SAFE Alerts have replaced Silver Alerts in Arizona as a way to spread the word about missing persons who are 65 and older and missing persons who have dementia or developmental/cognitive disabilities.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on Jan. 3, 2026.

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