Hannah Moody, a 31-year-old popular hiking influencer from California, was found dead near a Scottsdale trail in Arizona last week after being reported missing for over 25 hours.
Moody’s body was discovered at approximately 12:05 p.m. on May 22 near the Gateway Trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, according to a press release from the Scottsdale Police Department. She had last been seen the previous evening, prompting friends to raise the alarm around 7:50 p.m. on May 21 after losing contact with her.
Responding officers located her vehicle still parked at the trailhead. However, attempts to trace her using phone calls and location pings were unsuccessful. Initial search efforts were carried out on foot with the support of drones and a helicopter from the Phoenix Police Department. After about four and a half hours, the night search was suspended at 11:30 p.m.
The search resumed early the next morning with assistance from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team and air unit. It was the air unit that ultimately located her body roughly 600 yards from the main trail. Authorities stated there were no visible signs of foul play or trauma.
“Scottsdale detectives and crime scene personnel will now conduct a thorough investigation to piece together what happened to Hannah and how she died,” the department said in its release. “Our investigation will be in cooperation with the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, which will ultimately determine the cause of death.”
Public records indicate Moody had lived in various California counties including Los Angeles, Alameda, and Orange, and previously resided in Charleston, South Carolina. Family members shared that she had recently moved back to Arizona from Charleston because she missed hiking in the state’s scenic desert trails.
Moody had a strong online presence, with about 45,000 followers on Instagram where she shared her hiking adventures and reflections. Just days before her death, she posted a video on May 18 showing her walking along a trail while expressing gratitude for being able to enjoy sunset hikes again.
In the video, she said, “I just realized God is literally blessing me with the day shift because he knows how much I freaking love the sunset and I love being able to go for sunset hikes.” She ended the video with a kiss to the camera and a view of the sunset behind the mountains.
Temperatures in Scottsdale exceeded 100°F around the time her body was discovered, adding to concerns about the dangers of hiking during extreme heat.
The investigation into her death is ongoing, and authorities have emphasized that it is still in the early stages. While no immediate signs of foul play have been found, the cause of death will be officially determined by the medical examiner.
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