Remains found this month believed to be missing from Queen Creek teen's home

On June 27, Glendale police announced they believe they have identified human remains found in a backyard earlier this month as those of a missing Queen Creek teenager after receiving a tip from the artist who drew the boy's distinctive tattoos and immediately recognized them in a police sketch.

Authorities say the decomposing body of a teenager was found June 8 in the backyard of a Glendale home near 51st Avenue and Cactus Road. The home's tenants reportedly were unaware of the body until landscapers came to clear the property of weeds that day.

The 16-year-old Queen Creek teen was last seen in October, and investigators believe his body has been in the Glendale yard since then and his death appears to be self-inflicted.

Officers arrived and identified the body as that of a boy, 15 to 16 years old, 6 feet tall and with brown hair. Police are awaiting autopsy results to learn the teen's name.

“Queen Creek Police Department detectives are working in conjunction with the Glendale Police Department on a death investigation in their jurisdiction that may be related to the disappearance of a 16-year-old from Queen Creek in October 2023. As noted by Glendale Police, “this appears to be a self-inflicted killing and not a homicide.” Glendale Police are awaiting the final report from the Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm the identity of the individual and release his name,” said Jennifer Lamis, Public Information Officer for the Queen Creek Police Department. “This investigation remains active and ongoing. We are unable to provide additional details at this time.”