ARIZONA NEWS

Body found in Tonto National Forest bonfire pile identified as missing teen

Jun 21, 2023, 2:00 PM | Updated: Jul 10, 2023, 7:20 am

File photo of a Tonto National Forest sign. A body found last week in a Tonto National Forest bonfi...

(Tonto National Forest File Photo)

(Tonto National Forest File Photo)

PHOENIX — A body found last week in a Tonto National Forest bonfire pile has been identified as a person reported missing from Tempe, authorities said Wednesday.

The death of 18-year-old Parker League was malicious and is being investigated as a homicide, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said.

MCSO was alerted to a body in a remote desert area northeast of metro Phoenix around 7 a.m. on June 12.

The body was located in the the Hackamore section of the Bulldog Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area, ABC15 reported.

No other details about the case were made available.

According to ABC15, League had just graduated from high school in Nebraska and was visiting friends in Tempe.

Bulldog Canyon covers 34,000 acres off State Route 88 with 20 miles of open routes and six access points.

The Hackamore entry point is about 5 miles northeast of central Apache Junction.

Motor vehicle operators must obtain a six-month permit to enter Bulldog Canyon. The access gates are locked, and the permits contain the combinations.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Parker League was from Tempe. He was reportedly from Nebraska and visiting friends in Tempe.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Phoenix fatal crash...

Aaron Schmidt

1 man dead after fatal multi-car crash involving semi-truck in Phoenix

One man is dead after a four-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck in Phoenix that happened near 51st Avenue and Osborn Road.

40 minutes ago

(Facebook Photo/Maricopa County Superior Court)...

Dave Neil

Man indicted on 44 counts of organized retail theft

A 30-year-old man has been indicted on multiple organized retail theft charges from a crime spree that lasted nearly a year in Maricopa County.

3 hours ago

pedestrian killed...

KTAR.com

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run collision in Phoenix early Saturday

A pedestrian was killed as part of a hit-and-run collision with a vehicle in Phoenix early Saturday.

5 hours ago

...

Dave Neil

New Safeway store set to open in Peoria on Oct. 18

A new Safeway supermarket is scheduled to open in Peoria near the end of next week.

6 hours ago

(Facebook Photo/Scottsdale Police Department)...

Dave Neil

Missing mountain biker found dead within McDowell-Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale

A missing mountain biker was found and recovered Friday night inside McDowell-Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale.

8 hours ago

(Facebook Photo/Tempe Town Lake)...

Dave Neil

Dead man’s body pulled from Tempe Town Lake on Saturday morning

Police pulled a dead man's body from Tempe Town Lake on Saturday morning.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Dr. Shanyn Lancaster, Family & Sports Medicine physician, Midwestern University Comprehensive Care Clinic – Central Phoenix

Exercise is truly your best medicine

“You never slow down, you never grow old”. – Tom Petty

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinic visits boost student training & community health

Going to a Midwestern University Clinic can help make you feel good in more ways than one.

...

Sanderson Ford

3 new rides for 3 new road trips in Arizona

It's time for the Sanderson Ford Memorial Day sale with the Mighty Fine 69 Anniversary, as Sanderson Ford turned 69 years old in May.

Body found in Tonto National Forest bonfire pile identified as missing teen