AZ - Parker League, 18, body found burning in firepit, Lost Dutchman State Park - Apache Junction, 12 June 2023 *arrest*

[ifindedout]

Body of missing Nebraska 18-year-old found burning in a bonfire pit

Parker League from Nebraska was visiting Tempe, Arizona, when he was reported missing by his terrified father on June 15. His belongings were found at a home in Tempe shortly after.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Mystery surrounds the discovery of the body of a missing 18-year-old from Nebraska who was found burning in a bonfire pit in a remote area in Arizona.

Parker League from Nebraska was visiting Tempe, Arizona, when he was reported missing by his terrified father on June 15. His belongings were found at a home in Tempe shortly after.

His body was found three days earlier on June 12 - burning in a fire pit close to the city of Apache Junction, which is near the Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has ruled his death as 'malicious' and is investigating it as a homicide.

 

[Knox]

I just came across this story and was going to create a post, so thank you.

Parker's body was found three days before he was reported missing? There are some interesting comments floating around regarding the state his remains were found in. Search his name & missing on Facebook.

 

[Knox]

The grim discovery was made by a resident in the area the morning of June 12. MCSO described League's death as "malicious."

On June 22, MCSO officials spoke out publicly about the case for the first time. Still, they refrained from disclosing several details to protect the integrity of the homicide investigation, including how the teen got to the desert and what happened to him.

“The information we have available for release is he was found in the pile burning. So as far as the other details of whether he was placed there, whether that's where he was, those are details we can't get into," said Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, a public information officer with MCSO. "Only certain people know details of that crime, so they can't be released to protect the integrity of investigation.”

League recently graduated from high school and was from Nebraska. Officials said he was visiting a friend in Tempe. However, it was ultimately a family member out of state who reported him missing.

MCSO searching for suspect after teen's body found in bonfire pit

Eighteen-year-old Parker League of Nebraska was visiting a friend in Tempe. He was reported missing by his family out of state.

www.12news.com

 

[Ed Teach]

Getting on board for the sleuthing on this one...this case makes me sad and mad. Horrendous crime here.

 

[Knox]

Getting on board for the sleuthing on this one...this case makes me sad and mad. Horrendous crime here.

How does a kid from a small town of 5,000 in Nebraska, end up dead in the Arizona desert?

 

[Knox]

Looks like that area is a pretty popular OHV site. Couple of different ways to enter.

Tempe to Bulldog Canyon OHV - Hackamore Gate

www.google.com

Bulldog Canyon Hackamore OHV Trails October 2021 — Natural Restorations

www.naturalrestorations.org

 

[Ed Teach]

I bet Maricopa Sheriff's office has a first rate detective division hopefully that will help answer these questions quickly.

 

[airportwoman]

How does a kid from a small town of 5,000 in Nebraska, end up dead in the Arizona desert?

The story said he was visiting a friend who lived there. Tempe is a big college town, so maybe he was thinking about going there?

I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting case, and not in a good way. My guess is that he saw something he shouldn't have.

 

[Ed Teach]

Just cursory investigation into his hometown apparently it is well known for dirt bike ATV activity. I wonder if PL rode bikes? He looks the part imo. Bulldog Canyon looks like dirt bike/ 4 wheeler heaven.
I'm very keen to hear more details in this case!

 

[Knox]

The story said he was visiting a friend who lived there. Tempe is a big college town, so maybe he was thinking about going there?

I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting case, and not in a good way. My guess is that he saw something he shouldn't have.

My question was rhetorical, but agree with your possibility. LE isn't revealing any details on who he was staying with or where the home was located.

His poor family, I can't imagine receiving that kind of news from a place so far away - horrific.

 

[Knox]

The brother of 18-year-old Parker League spoke exclusively with ABC15 on Thursday. This is the first time the family has spoken since the teen's body was found in a bonfire pile at Bulldog Canyon, which is part of the Tonto National Forest.

Hunter was just two years older than his brother, who he also called his best friend. He said Parker had just graduated high school in Nebraska and decided to take a trip to Tempe to visit friends.

"I knew he had a place to stay; I knew he got there. We texted... that's about it," said Hunter.

The family says Parker flew in on June 9 and last messaged his brother on the 10th. He was supposed to fly home on the 12th but, that same day, his body was found. Parker's family says they were not made aware and filed a missing persons report with the Tempe Police Department on the 15th.

Campers say they've heard about recent crimes happening in Bulldog Canyon, including theft. ABC15 brought that up to Hunter and he believes Parker may have been targeted because of an expensive watch he took with him on the trip. The family says they also checked Parker's bank account and found two unusual transactions.

"We basically found out that someone was using his debit card to get food and tried to pay their electric bill with it," said Hunter.

Family of teen found in bonfire pile speaks with ABC15

The brother of 18-year-old Parker League spoke exclusively with ABC15 on Thursday and provided photos of Parker. This is the first time the family has spoken since the teen's body was found.

www.abc15.com

 

[JosieMae]

How sad. Hope those responsible are apprehended quickly with the help of data trails and cameras.

So very sorry for his family and loved ones.

 

[ifindedout]

Because of the electric bill, I'm sure a POI will be named in short order.

 

[Knox]

Because of the electric bill, I'm sure a POI will be named in short order.

Maybe, but if his wallet was tossed- someone unrelated to the crime could have found it. Incredibly dumb for someone connected to his death to use his debit card to pay their own utility bill?

Hope you're right!

 

[starlightstarbright]

It’s interesting that his body was found before he was reported missing. It’s not surprising that his family didn’t realise he was missing as he was away from home and not yet expected back. But what about the friends he was staying with? I would certainly notice if a house guest just up and disappeared.

 

[Dhighsmith]

Maybe it’s my perception from watching too much CourtTV but appears the County is well experienced

I bet Maricopa Sheriff's office has a first rate detective division hopefully that will help answer these questions quickly.

It’s interesting that his body was found before he was reported missing. It’s not surprising that his family didn’t realise he was missing as he was away from home and not yet expected back. But what about the friends he was staying with? I would certainly notice if a house guest just up and disappeared.

 

[arielilane]

The brother of Parker League believes he may have been targeted because of an expensive watch he took with him on the trip.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673330545881673728

https://twitter.com/CourtTV

Body found in bonfire pile in Tonto National Forest identified, family speaks out

The brother of Parker League believes he may have been targeted because of an expensive watch he took with him on the trip.

www.courttv.com

Last updated 7:18 AM, June 26, 2023

(Scripps News Phoenix) – A body found in a bonfire pile in the Tonto National Forest has been identified as an 18-year-old reported missing out of Tempe.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office identified the body as that of 18-year-old Parker League on June 21. League had been reported missing by the Tempe Police Department, according to MCSO.

Tempe police say League was visiting from Arizona but was from out of state. His last known location is believed to be at a residential home in Tempe, where his belongings were left behind, police said.

MCSO says League’s death was “malicious,” but did not specify how the teen died. [...]

 

[KooshBall]

This is awful, he had his whole life ahead of him. If it was really over a watch then I am starting to feel society is doomed.

 

[tarabull]

Imma guess MAYBE it was a Nixon ...FWIW...IMHO.

 

[Dhighsmith]

Focusing in on the only real facts released by LE makes me think it’s a very troubled person who’s likely to have committed other crimes in the past. The energy it takes to burn a human body with minimal evidence is enormous. The process requires an accelerant along with sufficient quantity of wood or other material to maintain fire at very high temps, this crime also requires both physical and mental strength and a criminal mind to go undetected.