Body Pulled From Arizona Canal Identified as Missing Native Woman, Investigation Launched

Police are investigating the death of a missing Native woman after her body was pulled from a canal in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scottsdale police said on Sunday, March 29, that they identified the body recovered from the canal as 28-year-old Passion Schurz.

The body was found near Scottsdale and Indian Bend roads on Saturday, March 28, which was one week after Schurz was originally reported missing to Salt River Police on March 22.

Police said they were able to identify Schurz after her body was recovered based on her tattoos and physical description.

Schurz’ cause of death has not yet been determined. Meanwhile, a medical examiner is working on a full report that will include toxicology results.

Police have asked that anyone with information regarding Schurz’ disappearance and death call the Scottsdale Police Department at 480-312-5000.

“This is not the outcome anyone looking for Passion Schurz was hoping for. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and community during this difficult time,” the police department said in a statement on March 29, per Arizona Family.

Missing in America Network employee Leila Woodard said that Schurz’s family contacted her after she was last seen on March 19, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.

“This was very unusual,” Woodard said of the case. “She left without her wallet and her purse, which she never did that. And so just the circumstances around her being missing was very concerning.”

Woodard added that Schurz was deeply loved by her community, noting that the circumstances around her disappearance remain mysterious and unclear.

“She was very loved by her family and community in that she was a mother, you know, and this was very unusual,” Woodard said.

Woodard went on to share that Schurz’ family and the Missing in America Network advocates “tried to work with the police to get a Turquoise Alert, but everyone was told she didn’t meet the criteria.”

In order to receive a Turquoise Alert, the missing person must be under 65 years old, all resources must have been used by a local agency, the disappearance must be considered suspicious or unexplained and the missing person must be believed to be in danger.

“Turquoise Alert was intended to help the missing murdered Indigenous peoples crisis in our state and entire North America and whenever it’s not utilized, we were really upset,” Woodard said.

Woodward also added that the general public needs to be vigilant when it comes to missing person cases.

“The missing and murdered Indigenous person crisis is a really big deal,” she said. “Indigenous women and girls, especially, go missing at disproportionate rates. And they’re 10 times likely to be found deceased in Arizona. We’re No. 2 in the nation for missing people and missing Indigenous people. So, we have to kind of band together as a community.”