Funeral services to be held Monday for former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel

PHOENIX — Services will be held Monday in Phoenix for former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel, who died last weekend due to health complications.

The funeral, which is open to open to friends, families, colleagues and supporters, is set for 2 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Ave.

Adel died Saturday at age 45, about five weeks after her final day as county attorney.

She announced her resignation March 21 and her last day as county attorney was March 25. Adel didn’t offer a specific reason for the move, but it brought closure to a tumultuous period for the office.

Adel, the first woman elected to the position, sought in-patient services in Arizona for anxiety and “unhealthy coping behaviors,” including alcohol abuse, on Aug. 29, 2021.

A week later, Adel was transferred to a facility in California.

She revealed to the public on Sept. 10 she would be away from the office, 12 days after first seeking help for her problems.

Adel subsequently returned to her post, but was met with more controversy.

Adel and MCAO came under fire in March after prosecutors were forced to drop 180 criminal cases after charges weren’t filed before the statute of limitation expired.

She defeated Democratic challenger Julie Gunnigle in the 2020 election to retain her position after she was appointed to replace Bill Montgomery, who left for a seat on the state Supreme Court in October 2019.

Adel is survived by her husband, David, her two sons and her father, John Adel.

Donations in Adel’s name can be made to the Phoenix Rotary 100.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the funeral service was closed to the public.

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