Decomposed body found in Maricopa; no cause of death reported

A decomposed body was discovered the morning of June 10 in a heavily brushed area south of the tracks west of Route 347. The body was reportedly discovered by an individual riding his ATV in the area.

According to Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Scott Elliott, the male body appeared to have been dead for two weeks or less. Elliott said the age of the deceased was not known. Elliott added that there was clothing on the body.

“The area was treated as a crime scene when the body was found as in any event of this type,” Elliott said.

The body was transferred to the county medical examiner’s office for examination and determination of death. Elliott said autopsies are normal protocol in these types of cases which also utilize dental records for identification. “We do not make that determination; the medical examiner does.”

The Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office said an autopsy was performed on the body Thursday in Tucson, but no cause of death was reported. The ME’s Office in Pinal County contracts with Pima County Forensic Science Center in Tucson for such exams.

The Center’s Chief Medical Examiner, Bruce Parks, told inmaricopa.com that there does not appear to be any trauma to the body.

“It is thought that the body might be that of a border crosser,” Parks said. “We see more of these types of deaths (border crossing fatalities) than anywhere else in the nation,” Parks added.

Parks indicated that both a forensic pathologist and an anthropologist will look at the remains to try and gain more knowledge of the deceased. “The forensic pathologist will look for trauma, while the anthropologist will focus on the bones in trying to determine the age of the individual, their height and other details,” Parks said.

Photos by Aaron Thacker

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