Douglas Dispatch

Deputies with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department are investigating what they call a “suspicious death” east of Elfrida last week.

According to Carol Capas of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Dept. at approximately 9:50 a.m. on June 27 the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a possible missing person in the Elfrida area.

Carpas said the person reporting advised that her friend had gone for a walk about a week ago and she had not seen him since. The woman advised that the man lives at approximate mile post 3.5 on Rucker Canyon Road which is a remote area and he may have walked to a nearby road and caught a ride to Willcox or Tucson.

Deputies responded to the call and were unable to locate the 58 year old man. After the initial search was conducted, the Cochise County Search and Rescue Team was advised and activated for a broader search on Thursday morning.

Eight volunteer members began their search using all terrain vehicles and horses to cover the vast area where the man was last seen. Approximately two hours after the search began; the body of the missing man was found an estimated 1000 feet away from where he was living in a tent next to a travel trailer.

Capas said a search of the tent that the man was living in was conducted and deputies found several medications with his name on them.

The condition of the body and the location where it was recovered led to detectives being dispatched and assume the investigation.

Further details pertaining to the investigation could not be released until a medical examiner’s report had been completed, Capas said.

The identity of the man has not been released, as authorities are still attempting to contact next of kin.