The remains of 46-year-old Hope Tucker, who went missing in May, have been found by authorities in Arizona next to her dead dog.
The mother and her dog's remains were discovered fewer than two miles north of Interstate 10, according to confirmation from officials on Monday. According to the police , early on May 22, while traveling on I-10 with her autistic son, their vehicle broke down between Verrado Way and Watson Road. Tucker's cause of death is unknown, but investigators stated they think the couple left the car to find shade.
On May 24, her son—who has trouble communicating—was discovered in distress at a Watson Road gas station. Before last week, he spent almost a month in the hospital before being given to a family member.
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Although he didn't bring up his mother while he was in the hospital, authorities said he told his family what had transpired, and they contacted Phoenix police. Tucker has been missing from the scene since June 22. During a call at a gas station on May 24, Hope's son and Buckeye police collaborated. He spent a month in the hospital due to what seemed to be medical distress.
Hope's child, who is currently in a relative's care, informed the family member on Saturday of the information, and the relative subsequently contacted Phoenix police. Following notification to the Buckeye police, a search was initiated for his mother.
According to the police, they tried unsuccessfully to ping Tucker's phone. LeRoy Tucker, Hope's father, said to ABC15 that he never imagined himself in this situation. After speaking with his grandson Tashawn, who was the last person to see Hope on May 22, LeRoy said he reported his daughter missing on Saturday.
LeRoy and his daughter last texted each other around Mother's Day. He claimed that until he was approached last week, he was unaware that his grandson was in the hospital. On Friday, after he didn't hear from his daughter, he hurried to the Valley.
He said: "She was so overprotective of Tashawn, I can’t imagine them being apart. They had been evicted from their home and were driving around in different locations parking." When the car broke down, Tashawn told his grandfather that they had spotted a slope with a tree and could seek shade there. LeRoy said, "They laid down for a nap, and [Hope] stopped breathing. "And she had no voice."
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In a Facebook post, Buckeye Police wrote: " Buckeye police need your help locating 46-year-old Hope Tucker. BPD received a report yesterday afternoon that Hope’s purple Dodge Charger had broken down on I-10 near Verrado in the early hours of May 22nd.
"Hope was with her adult son who is autistic with high support needs and limited communication. The two left the vehicle to seek shade, and shortly after, Hope may have suffered a life-threatening medical emergency. Just after 11 a.m. that same day, a trooper in the area located the abandoned vehicle on I-10 near mile post 119, and it was towed.
"Hope’s son, who is now in the care of a relative, reported this information yesterday to the relative who then called Phoenix Police. Buckeye police were notified and immediately initiated a search.
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