Found Deceased AZ - Hannah Moody, hiker, “unexpected & uncharacteristic”, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, 21 May 2025

[imstilla.grandma]

Scottsdale police say Hannah Moody was last seen in the Gateway Trailhead area of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. However, she did not return to her vehicle or check in with family and friends.

Search underway for missing hiker last seen on Scottsdale trail

Police are searching for a woman who went hiking at a Scottsdale trail early Wednesday and has not returned.

www.azfamily.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1925576239814779335

 

[truthfinder2019]

Body of missing hiker found in McDowell Sonoran Preserve area; 'no signs of foul play' per PD

Scottsdale police have located the body of a hiker who went into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve on Wednesday and did not return.

www.abc15.com

She was last seen wearing a black tank top, black shorts, hiking boots, and a pink backpack.

Police say she is about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 150 pounds. She has black hair and hazel eyes.

Hiker who went missing at McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale found dead

Scottsdale police confirmed May 22 that Hannah Moody, 31, was found dead after last being seen at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale.

eu.azcentral.com

Search efforts began in the evening of May 21 and continued through the morning of May 22 using numerous Scottsdale Police Department resources. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Phoenix Police Department helped search from the air

 

[truthfinder2019]

The Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a large, permanently protected, sustainable desert habitat that includes an interconnected network of non-motorized, multi-use trails (hike/bike/horse) accessed from multiple trailhead locations.

Rattlesnakes are an important part of the Preserve ecosystem and are a protected species. The Preserve is a wild area inhabited by a variety of wild animals, which are inherently unpredictable. While you visit their natural habitat, it is important to understand these tips to assure a safe experience.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

www.scottsdaleaz.gov

McDowell Sonoran Preserve · Scottsdale, Arizona

maps.app.goo.gl

Videos from the above link

South area : Gateway, Tom's Thumb, Lost Dog Wash, Sunrise, Ringtail Trailheads

North/central area Brown's Ranch, Pima Dynamite, Granite Mountain, Fraesfield, Tom's Thumb Trailheads

 

[GraceG]

I found a recent minor traffic ticket (fine type) from April for a Hannah Rose Moody, born in 1995
R-0751-PR-2025014726 Scottsdale District Court but nothing else in Arizona. In looking at links in her missing posts on FB, others have linked her FB page (with photos) that shows her as living in Charleston, South Carolina in mid 2024. Log into Facebook. Looks like she is very fit and athletic. Her instagram page has posts from hiking in the desert so she may have relocated to AZ. But definately doesn't seem like a novice hiker to me. https://www.instagram.com/itshanrose Hope she is found soon.

 

[Knox]

Body of missing hiker found in McDowell Sonoran Preserve area; 'no signs of foul play' per PD

Scottsdale police have located the body of a hiker who went into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve on Wednesday and did not return.

www.abc15.com

Hannah was found, 600 yards off the trail from where she was last seen. No signs of foul play?

31 years old, healthy, experienced hiker? Look forward to hearing what her COD is. My thoughts are with her family and friends. Sad to lose someone so young.

 

[LarkBunting]

Body of missing hiker found in McDowell Sonoran Preserve area; 'no signs of foul play' per PD

Scottsdale police have located the body of a hiker who went into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve on Wednesday and did not return.

www.abc15.com

Hannah was found, 600 yards off the trail from where she was last seen. No signs of foul play?

31 years old, healthy, experienced hiker? Look forward to hearing what her COD is. My thoughts are with her family and friends. Sad to lose someone so young.

It was 101 degrees F in Scottsdale yesterday, and 102 today. My thoughts always go to extreme heat, dehydration, etc. But, she was an experienced hiker, per her family, so I imagine she had adequate water, hiked in the morning when it was cooler, etc.

I doubt it was wildlife. It almost never is.

Maybe a fall? A head injury, disorientation, then dehydration?

So young and so sad.

 

[Cedars]

It was 101 degrees F in Scottsdale yesterday, and 102 today. My thoughts always go to extreme heat, dehydration, etc. But, she was an experienced hiker, per her family, so I imagine she had adequate water, hiked in the morning when it was cooler, etc.

I doubt it was wildlife. It almost never is.

Maybe a fall? A head injury, disorientation, then dehydration?

So young and so sad.

I wouldn't rule out heat stroke. For example, the description and photo of her don't indicate a hat. Very easy to overestimate one's ability, when it's not a matter of willpower.

 

[truthfinder2019]

Very sad. My thoughts and prayers for her family and loved ones.

 

[TravelingBug]

Maybe a fall? A head injury, disorientation, then dehydration?

So young and so sad.

I think you're right.

It seems a whole lot like Kathleen Patterson (also a thread here) in Spurs Cross 20 months ago (also a bit off her expected trail, but very close to the parking lot). A huge very powerful whistle initiative has even been started in honor of Kathleen to try to prevent more deaths like this. Kathleen's death was pretty much exactly as you described.

I'm local and posts were all over all the local FB groups (particularly a widely followed hiking one and a widely followed one used for local searches)

Her friends had the word out about her being missing pretty shortly after what would have been late (so they didn't wait long) and had pictures and knew she had a lot of water with.

There were searches happening pretty much as soon as word was out, and calls for anyone who had been in the Preserve who might have seen her (to narrow down last location). Despite the heat, it's still around a range a fair number of people are still biking and hiking, especially in the earlier part of the day like when she set out.

They (friends) really mobilized well and quickly.

I'm so sad even the extremely quick response wasn't enough.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Moody’s body was discovered around noon on Thursday — just 600 yards off-trail from the parking lot area, police said.

“This is an active investigation,” police said, while stressing that “there are no signs of foul play.”

Missing hiker Hannah Moody, 31, found dead near Arizona trail she was last seen on

A woman who vanished while hiking in the Arizona desert has been found dead after a huge search, according to local police.

nypost.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The Maricopa County Office Medical Examiner is working to determine Moody’s cause of death. Authorities said they don’t believe there was foul play involved, but their investigation is ongoing

Search crews find missing woman’s body after she vanished while going for a morning hike

Authorities in Arizona say a death investigation is underway after crews located the body of a woman who vanished after going hiking.

www.cleveland19.com

 

[NanZDrew]

I wouldn't rule out heat stroke. For example, the description and photo of her don't indicate a hat. Very easy to overestimate one's ability, when it's not a matter of willpower.

I have hiked when it was over 100 degrees...the Grand Canyon in fact, and with plenty of water was OK. You sweat alot which cools you but keep drinking. She was from the area and was accustomed to this heat. She would have known this as her friends pointed out.

Twenty years ago, you could feel pretty safe hiking parks. Now it seems there are so many deaths, very often murders.

 

[*LD*]

She was found only 600 yards from the trailhead. . .

 

[sunflowermomma]

It certainly looks like she had extensive outdoor experience in multiple climates, and was very fit in general - I don't think she would have perished from the elements unless she had some kind of medical event or accident that prevented her from moving? 91 is definitely hot, but my 85 year old grandpa still golfs in it every day he can, a fit 31 year old could make it 600 yards in that heat.

It also looks like she made some big life changes semi-recently and she's quite open about struggling with mental health at times. I hope that she was not hurting and took her own life. MOO

 

[Knox]

'An amazing person' | Father of avid hiker who died on AZ trail opens up about her life, faith

John Moody described the impact his daughter, Hannah Moody, had on his life and the lives of the others around her as “transformational.”

www.abc15.com

Please watch the video with Hannah's Dad, very touching.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A cause of death is currently unknown, with an investigation underway by detectives and crime scene personnel.

Tributes have been paid to the former dancer by friends, fans and family. Brother Ethan Moody wrote on social media: “My heart aches… I love you, sis. Joel and I and Mom and Dad and so many others miss you more than words can express.”
“I hope that, in death, she has found the home she sought in life. I just wish I could see her once more. I love you and miss you, Hannah.”

'Heartbreaking development' as body of hiking influencer found in nature reserve

The body of hiking influencer Hannah Moody has been discovered in an Arizona nature reserve in what police have described as a “heartbreaking development”.

www.nationalworld.com

 

[pamelado2]

She was found only 600 yards from the trailhead. . .

But also off the trail. Which is why she wasn't found - wouldn't that be unusual, to hike completely of trail? I read she was hiking to Tom's Thumb I believe and was meeting a friend for lunch. Maybe she was on her way back to her car when she went off trail.

 

[pamelado2]

But also off the trail. Which is why she wasn't found - wouldn't that be unusual, to hike completely of trail? I read she was hiking to Tom's Thumb I believe and was meeting a friend for lunch. Maybe she was on her way back to her car when she went off trail.

Article with Tom's Thumb mention

 

[sunflowermomma]

How clearly marked is the trail? I've hiked in Tucson and desert hiking is different than dense woodland hiking, sometimes the trail is not marked and matches the rest of the natural landscape. Maybe she went off trail on accident and fell or had a medical episode?

 

[Knox]

I remembered the family (Gerrish/Chung) who died while hiking in the Sierras today. They were experienced hikers too. It took a while to get their COD, quite a while for tox results to come back. That was a really tragic case too, they had their baby with them.

Thinking of Hanah’s loved ones today.