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Missing 70 Year-Old Linda Schleizer Found Deceased

The search for a missing Ash Fork woman with Alzheimer's disease came to a tragic end over the weekend.

Searchers with Yavapai County Sheriff's Search and Rescue were conducting a follow-up search for Linda Schleizer, 70, when they found her body in the Juniperwood Ranch area west of Ash Fork at about 9 a.m. Saturday. Her remains were located approximately 0.75 miles east of the residence under a juniper tree in a shallow wash area.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office notified the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, which responded along with personnel with the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office.

Schleizer's husband reported her missing after she walked away from her home in the 5000 block of Mathis Road, about 8.4 miles northwest of Ash Fork, on July 16. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office activated a Silver Alert. More than 150 Coconino County and Yavapai County Sheriff's personnel, including mounted units, search dogs, ATVs, jeeps and helicopters, spent several days and nights searching for her with no luck.

Other agencies that assisted included Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Wing Civil Air Patrol, Kaibab Estates West Fire Department and Ash Fork Fire Department.

The active search was suspended July 20 but follow-up searches occurred July 23 and 30.

The cause of death is still under investigation.