Remains Found in Desert Confirmed to be Missing Adrienne Salinas
Tempe Police confirmed that the skeletal remains found in the Arizona desert were those of a 19-year-old student who went missing in June.
More than 100 officers combed the sparse desert in Apache Junction, near Tempe, where the body was discovered by a property owner on August 6.
Because the remains were so decomposed, authorities have only confirmed that it was college student Adrienne Salinas today.
Miss Salinas went missing in the early hours of June 15 as she headed to her boyfriend’s home after the couple rowed at a party.
She had called for a cab at about 4am but when the driver turned up, she was already gone, according to Fox 10.
When the body was found near Highway 88, detectives checked missing persons databases to see if there would be a match. Miss Salinaswas the only listed in the area.
Similarities between Miss Salinasand the body were noted, although police did not highlight what they were. They are now waiting for DNA results to confirm if the remains are hers.
Her family were notified that a body had been found last week.
Miss Salinas’ father, Rick Salinas, told 3TV he was heartbroken and ‘too sick’ for words. He declined to say anything more about the possibility that his daughter might be dead.
‘The area where the remains were located has been searched several times since the recovery, but today investigators from multiple agencies will search an even larger area, much of it consisting of rough terrain,’Tempe police sergeant Mike Pooley told 3TV.
‘We’re looking for any kind of clues that might help us solve this case.’
Police have said they suspect foul play, but they do not know if the body was dumped in the desert or washed there in a recent flood.
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