On Sunday, at approximately 11:10 am the body of missing hiker, ASU Professor Debra Schwartz, was located in an unnamed slot canyon below the rim of Oak Creek Canyon. A three member technical rescue team that was tasked with checking the slot canyons located her.
According to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, the third day of the intensive search for the missing ASU Professor, rescuers were in the field and under way by daylight. The search resources consisted of:
· One Team of five searchers mounted on horseback
· Three teams of off-road vehicles
· Six teams of ground searchers with five people in each team
· One dog team consisting of 3 dogs and six handlers
· Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Air Rescue Helicopter and crew
· AZ Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter and crew based in Flagstaff
· The Yavapai County Jeep Posse
· Three technical rescue teams with three technicians in each team
Several slot canyons that run from the rim to the canyon floor were partially searched on Saturday; however steep inclines, very rough terrain and thick underbrush made conditions unsafe for conventional ground searchers.
Professor Schwartz was located approximately ½ mile from her campsite. The body will be transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives will work with personnel from the medical examiner’s office in an attempt to determine the cause and manner of death.