A 31-year-old California woman who went missing during a solo hike in Arizona has been found dead near a trail in Scottsdale, police confirmed.
Hannah Moody, a social media influencer with more than 45,000 Instagram followers, was reported missing on the evening of May 21 after friends and family were unable to reach her. She had set out on a hike earlier that day but failed to check in.
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Scottsdale police officers responded to the Gateway Trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, where they found her vehicle still parked. A search operation was launched that night with officers on foot, drones, and aerial assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. The effort continued for over four hours before being paused around 11:30 p.m.
Search operations resumed the next morning with more than 20 officers on foot and bike, as well as additional support from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department’s search and rescue team and air unit. Around noon, the sheriff’s air unit located Moody’s body roughly 600 feet from the trailhead.
According to her Instagram profile, Moody frequently posted about hiking, fitness, and her Christian faith. The Los Angeles Times reported that she had previously lived in Los Angeles, Orange, and Alameda counties in California, as well as in South Carolina.
Authorities said that the initial investigation revealed no signs of trauma or foul play. However, a full investigation is underway in cooperation with the Maricopa County Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death. Officials noted that temperatures in the area at the time often exceed 100 degrees by midday.
“We are committed to understanding what happened to Hannah,” Scottsdale police said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her loved ones during this difficult time.”
