Missing Scottsdale Hiker Found Dead Off-Trail

Hannah Moody had been missing for nearly two days.

Published: 5/23/2025, 5:36:32 PM EDT

Missing Scottsdale Hiker Found Dead Off-Trail — (Hannah Moody/Instagram)

The lifeless body of a missing Scottsdale hiker was located by search crews around noon on May 22, according to Scottsdale, Arizona, law enforcement.

Hannah Moody had been missing for nearly two days.

The 31-year-old was last seen in the Gateway Trailhead area of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve on the morning of May 21 and had not returned to her vehicle or made contact with family or friends since then.

“Our hearts go out to her family and friends,” Scottsdale Police said in a May 22 statement on Twitter while labeling her disappearance as unexpected and uncharacteristic. “It is a heartbreaking development in the extensive search for the missing hiker that started in the evening hours on May 21.”

A death investigation is underway in cooperation with the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner however law enforcement officials said there are no obvious signs of foul play or trauma at this early point of the process.

“Scottsdale officers responded to the trailhead where she was last seen and located her vehicle still in the parking lot,” a May 22 Scottsdale Police Department press release posted on Facebook stated. “Efforts to reach her by phone or ping her cellphone were unsuccessful. Officers began search efforts on foot, with drones and assistance from a Phoenix Police Department helicopter. Search efforts continued for Hannah for approximately four and a half hours until around 11:30 p.m., when the search was called off for the evening.”

The search resumed the next morning on May 22 with more than 20 officers on foot, bicycles, with drones, along with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team and air unit. Civilians also assisted in the search Moody.

It was the Maricopa County Sheriff's air unit that located Hannah's body about 600 yards off-trail.

“This is an active investigation," police ssaid. "Please respect the family's privacy at this time. We appreciate everyone's efforts in helping to locate Hannah.”

Moody weighed 150 pounds, was 5 foot 6, had dark hair and dark eyes.

In an April 27 Instagram account post, Moody told her 43,000 followers that she had moved back to Arizona six months ago.

“Life has been… so good,” she said. “Lots of sunsets, nature, friends, good food, solo dates.”

Her last hiking video was on May 18 in which she discussed not making enough money as a day waitress.

“I was used to working nights,” Moody said in the Instagram video. “I just realized God is literally blessing me with the day shift because he knows how much i frickin’ love the sunset and I love going for sunset hikes and i haven’t been able to do. It’s so sweet and thoughtful. It made me look at the situation in a different light.”