Maricopa Man Dies After Being Found in National Forest

Richard Maurice Byrd, a 77-year-old man from Maricopa, was reported missing last week and tragically passed away on Friday following a search effort that spanned across two counties.

Community members searched the remote area of Seven Springs, located about 10 miles northeast of Cave Creek. They were assisted by helicopters from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, which airlifted them to a Ranger Station.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner has not yet provided an official cause of death, although preliminary reports suggested injuries may have been related to the conditions in the Tonto National Forest. It’s still unclear how long Byrd was in the wilderness before he was discovered.

After reaching the Ranger Station, Byrd was transported to a hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter, as stated by MPD spokesperson Monica Williams.

Byrd had been reported missing on Thursday afternoon. His last known phone location was tracked in Casa Grande before it became inactive. Authorities later found his Nissan Altima in Gilbert, although there was no evidence he had any contact with that area.

Due to certain medical conditions, including a diagnosis of dementia, Byrd was considered an at-risk adult. There’s a collective sense of sadness and confusion surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance and death.