A hiker's unsettling discovery off a South Mountain trail this past weekend has led to a Phoenix Police investigation into discovered human remains. The hiker, identified on TikTok as @tattooed_traveler, reported the find to a park ranger, who then alerted the authorities, according to a FOX 10 Phoenix release.
The discovery was made on Saturday morning around 10 a.m., and officers confirmed the remains were indeed human. "The remains will be collected by the Office of the Medical Examiner where the investigation will await the findings of their exam to determine the cause and manner of death," as stated in the release obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Local hikers and residents are on edge as the investigation continues, with many taking to social media to express their unease about the trail's safety. The identity of the person whose life was lost and left to the whims of nature on a trail remains unknown, and authorities have not yet commented on whether the discovery points to a larger issue of safety on the popular hiking trails. ABC15 urges the public to stay tuned for updates as this developing situation unfolds.
