Body found in Glendale backyard identified as missing teen

PHOENIX – Information from a tattoo artist helped police identify a body found recently in a Glendale backyard as that of a missing Queen Creek teenager, authorities said Thursday.

Sean Barragan-Springgay, 16, was last seen in October 2023. His remains were found behind a home near Cactus Road and 51st Avenue on June 8, the Glendale Police Department said.

“We believe the body was there in the yard the entire time,” Glendale city spokesman Jose Miguel Santiago said in a media advisory.

Santiago added that the teen's death appears to be self-inflicted.

Thanks to you, we believe we have identified the human remains found in a Glendale construction site. Evidence has led us to believe the person found is a missing 16-year-old from the Queen Creek area. We are grateful to the community for helping us bring closure to this family. https://t.co/jSuxZGavK6

– Glendale Police (@GlendaleAZPD) June 27, 2024

How a tattoo helped confirm identity of body found in Glendale backyard

Police on Wednesday released a sketch of what the victim may have looked like, including drawings of a tattoo and a dental model.

“We are waiting for the autopsy results to be 100% sure that the individual is who we think he is,” Santiago said. “Right now, we are comfortable sharing that the tip came from the person who drew the tattoo.”

Although authorities are waiting for the medical examiner's final report to officially name the victim, information released Thursday matches the description of Barragan-Springgay on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website.

Additionally, Santiago wrote, “Yes, that's who we think he is” in response to an email asking if he could confirm it was Barragan-Springgay.

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