Body found in bonfire pit near Lost Dutchman park was teen missing from Tempe

MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found in a bonfire pile near Lost Dutchman State Park as 18-year-old Parker League, missing from Tempe. Deputies say League’s death was “malicious” but didn’t specify further. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office homicide unit is now investigating what led up to his death.

The body was discovered on Monday, June 12, in a remote desert area northeast of Apache Junction. League’s body was found smoldering in what remained from a makeshift bonfire close to the Bulldog Canyon - Hackamore area, east of state Route 88 and Lost Dutchman State Park. MCSO still hasn’t said how the teen died. Tempe police said on Wednesday Parker was visiting Arizona from out of state. His belongings were found at a home in Tempe. A family member reported him missing.

The body was found in a bonfire pit on Monday. — The body was found in a bonfire pit on Monday.(Arizona's Family)

Last week, Arizona’s Family True Crime reporter Briana Whitney spoke to experts who say detectives will likely use cellphone data and certain characteristics of the body to piece together the investigation. Former Phoenix PD homicide Sgt. Troy Hillman explained that DNA collected at the scene and any remnants of blunt force trauma could help provide a clearer picture of what happened. The area of the bonfire could also provide clues. “It also speaks to potential suspects as being potentially familiar with that area and/or wanting to have some sort of solitude to commit the heinous act or dump the body,” said Hillman.

The body found in a bonfire pit near Lost Dutchman State Park last week has been identified as a teen reported missing from Tempe.

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