Human remains identified; found on a northern Arizona mountain in 2019

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The Coconino County Sheriff's Office has identified human remains found at the base of Mount Elden nearly five years ago.

According to the sheriff's office, these remains belong to Mark Austin Dunne, a Phoenix man who went missing in 2017.

Investigators say a hiker found Dunne's body on Nov. 2, 2019, in a heavily wooded area. Initial efforts to identify the remains were unsuccessful. Still, investigators contacted a forensic DNA center, Intermountain Forensics, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, in late 2023 to help them identify the remains.

Over the next few months, a DNA profile was created and then a potential match identified the remains as those of Dunne. A DNA sample was then tested at the University of North Texas and compared to that of Dunne's family members. He confirmed the remains belonged to Dunne.

According to authorities, Dunne disappeared in March 2017 after he was unable to be contacted by his family members. Investigators still don't know how long Dunne had been in the Flagstaff area, but the initial scene suggested he had been camping for a long time.

“The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Dunne’s family, who has requested privacy at this time,” a statement from the department said.

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