Tragic Discovery: Missing Arizona Woman Found Dead in Isolated Wilderness

A 59-year-old Arizona City woman, who went missing on July 19, was found deceased on Monday, as confirmed by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).

The missing woman, Mary Duarte, had prompted a county-wide search effort. Authorities had issued alerts, seeking public assistance in locating her and her vehicle. Residents were urged to stay vigilant.

On July 22, the search crew discovered Duarte and her car approximately a mile off the road from Sunland Gin and Pretzer roads. This remote area lies south of Arizona City and west of Picacho Peak. The exact circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death remain unclear.

The Pinal County Medical Examiner’s office is currently investigating to determine the cause of death.

About the Valley:

Locals refer to the Phoenix Metropolitan Area as “The Valley.” It stands as the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.

The Valley encompasses a variety of cities in addition to Phoenix, including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Gilbert, El Mirage, Avondale, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, and Buckeye. Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends solely on its geographic location relative to Phoenix.

The entire Valley is home to 4,845,832 residents, based on the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the United States, just behind Boston and Atlanta.

As for Maricopa County, it ranks as the 4th largest county by population in the U.S., housing 4,485,414 people according to the 2020 Census. This county alone holds about 63% of Arizona’s population and spans 9,224 square miles, making it larger than seven U.S. states combined (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire).

Maricopa County is also known for one of the nation’s largest park systems, with 120,000 acres of open space parks featuring extensive trail networks, nature centers, and campgrounds.

Phoenix, the county seat, is also the state capital and the 5th most populous city in the United States. The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.