Sedona AZ (June 7, 2013) – The body of the man found in Oak Creek Canyon on May 27, 2013, has been identified as forty-seven year old Stephen Buck of the State of Washington.
On May 27, at 4:13 in the afternoon, an Oak Creek Canyon hiker called a Coconino County Sheriff Emergency Dispatcher on his cell phone to report that he and a companion hiker were exploring the canyon when they found a deceased male. The caller’s location was determined to be off of State Route 89A in the area of mile post 379.
Upon arrival Deputies were advised by the hikers that the body was face down on the ground and hidden by trees on the nearby creek. Investigators found the body fully clothed and did not observe any signs of injures or blunt trauma that would be consistent with an assault or some other manner of foul play.
Detectives found several types of controlled substances or narcotics in close proximity to the body. Investigators found a key for a U-Haul vehicle in a pocket of the dead man’s clothing and matched it to a U-Haul van parked along SR 89A.
The U-Haul had been reported stolen by its rental agency.
Investigators also learned that there was an active United States Marshal Federal Warrant for the deceased initiated by the Department of Drug Enforcement in California.
Detectives are considering the possibility that the individual died as the result of a self-induced drug overdose. This investigation is being continued and updates will be made public as available.
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