In a disheartening update to a case that has gripped the Buckeye community, local police have confirmed the discovery of the body of Hope Tucker, the 46-year-old mother who vanished in late May. According to a statement acquired by FOX 10 Phoenix, Tucker's remains were found yesterday morning, approximately 1.5 miles from Interstate 10, along with her dog's remains.
Authorities were directed to a desolate stretch of desert west of the Sienna Hills community near Verrado Way and Thomas Road, initiating their search at 5:00 a.m., where they located Tucker's body, as confirmed by Buckeye Police Department spokesperson Carissa Planalp. "It’s approximately a straight line, a mile-and-a-half. But there’s some terrain that if somebody was on foot, they wouldn’t have to navigate hills in that area," Planalp detailed in an update reported by Arizona’s Family.
The mystery of Tucker's disappearance began after her car broke down on I-10 on May 22, during a morning journey. According to what came to light, after the car broke down between Verrado Way and Watson Road, Tucker and her adult autistic son attempted to find reprieve from the relentless Arizona sun, seeking shade on foot. Unfortunately, Tucker never made it back.
Her son, described as having a limited ability to communicate, was discovered alone and distressed at a gas station on Watson Road on May 24. Following a nearly one-month hospitalization, he was last week placed into the care of a relative, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. It was only upon speaking to this relative that he shared his mother's fate, sparking a renewed search by authorities.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office has been tasked with determining Tucker's official cause of death.
