ARIZONA NEWS

Hiker finds human skull at South Mountain Park, foul play suspected

Jan 19, 2023, 2:10 PM

(Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Photos)...

(Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Photos)

(Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Photos)

PHOENIX – Police suspect foul play after a hiker found a human skull at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix last weekend.

The grisly discovery was made around 1:50 p.m. Saturday, the Phoenix Police Department said in a press release Thursday.

The remains had signs of trauma, prompting a homicide investigation, police said.

Detectives are following leads and working with the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the victim.

Anybody with information about the case was asked to call the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or, to remain anonymous, Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446) for Spanish.

Earlier this month, an off-roader found a human skull and other bones in the desert near Johnson Road and Southern Avenue in Buckeye.

Those remains, which also are unidentified, were taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

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Hiker finds human skull at South Mountain Park, foul play suspected