On Sunday, March 26, 2017 at approximately 4:07 p.m., the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to a vehicle in the Gila Gravity Canal near County 4th Street. Deputies located the vehicle and determined that the vehicle appeared to have been in the water for some time and was consistent with the vehicle size in the John Burkett missing person case. On March 27th at approximately 11:30 a.m., with the assistance of the YCSO Under Water Recovery Team, Sheriff’s Office Investigators recovered the pink and grey camouflaged Suzuki Samari.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case asked to contact the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 928-783-4427 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.
Originally on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at approximately 10:45 a.m., the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person from the 300 block of South May Avenue. Upon arrival, deputies met with the reporting party who stated that the missing person, identified as John Burkett, 56, of Yuma, had left the residence at 7:00 a.m. and had not arrived at work.
Mr. Burkett is described as white male, 5’11” tall, approximately 170 pounds, with grey hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt with “Yuma Carpet” on it and shorts. Mr. Burkett was driving a pink and grey camouflaged Suzuki Samurai with Arizona State license plate number BCM1653.
Continuous efforts to locate Mr. Burkett by the Sheriff’s Office, family and friends have been unsuccessful. The YCSO continues to investigate all leads that have been provided to investigators.
You can also visit www.yumacountysheriff.org to submit an anonymous tip.