Buckeye police use drone to search for woman missing since May

The Buckeye and Gila River police departments continued to search Monday for a woman who has been missing since May 22.

A drone and K9 teams are being used in the search, Buckeye police said Monday.

Hope Tucker, 46, has been missing after her car broke down along Interstate 10 near Verrado, Buckeye police said Sunday.

The Buckeye Police Department received a report Saturday that Hope Tucker’s purple Dodge Charger had broken down while she was driving with her adult son who is autistic with high support needs and limited communication, police said.

The two left the vehicle to seek shade, and shortly after, Tucker may have suffered a life-threatening medical emergency. Just after 11 a.m. that same day, a trooper in the area found the abandoned vehicle on I-10 near mile post 119, and it was towed, according to a release from the department.

Hope’s son, who is in the care of a relative, reported the information Saturday to the relative who called Phoenix police.

Buckeye police were notified and began a search.

Investigators have learned Buckeye police had contact with Tucker’s son May 24 when responding to an indecent exposure call at a QuikTrip on Watson Road.

“The man was reportedly urinating in public and appeared to be in medical distress,” police said, adding Buckeye fire personnel arrived and took to a hospital where he remained for about a month.

Buckeye police have attempted to ping the missing woman’s phone with no success and are conducting search operations, coordinating with other agencies for additional resources.

Authorities ask the public to avoid the area. However, anyone with information on Hope’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 or submit a tip online at www.buckeyeaz.gov/crimetip .