A hiker, Hannah Moody, 31, was found dead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 22, after being reported missing the previous evening. Authorities discovered her body around 12:05 p.m., approximately 600 yards off-trail from the Gateway Trailhead. The Scottsdale Police Department characterized her disappearance as “unexpected and uncharacteristic,” noting that there were no immediate signs of foul play or trauma. The investigation is being led by the Scottsdale Police, with the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner set to determine the cause of death.
Moody was last seen on the morning of May 21, and friends reported her missing around 7:50 p.m. that same day when they did not hear from her. Concerned, they alerted the authorities, who found her car still parked at the trailhead. Search efforts began that night, lasting four hours with officers aided by drones and a helicopter from the Phoenix Police Department. The search was resumed the following morning with over 20 officers on the ground, alongside a search and rescue team and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Air Unit, which ultimately located her.
The tragic discovery of Moody’s body has raised questions among friends and family, but police have yet to identify the circumstances surrounding her death. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a vibrant life experienced within the beauty of the nature preserve.
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