Best friend arrested after missing college grad found dead in Arizona desert

GILBERT, Ariz. (TCN) -- A 23-year-old man was taken into custody for allegedly killing his best friend and leaving his body in the desert one day after the victim’s birthday.

Alijah Bradley was last seen Aug. 12 in Gilbert, which KNXV-TV reports was one day after his 24th birthday. According to KTVK-TV, Bradley’s family reported him missing to the Gilbert Police Department on Aug. 15 after he failed to show up to work. Bradley’s mother told KTVK she tracked his phone to his friend Samuel Bush’s apartment, but then his phone turned off and the tracker disconnected. His relatives were able to obtain his car’s coordinates, so they shared that information with police.

On Aug. 19, law enforcement reportedly located Bradley’s car in Gila Bend, a small town south of Phoenix.

One of Bradley’s relatives told KTVK that the recent college grad had been decapitated and shot.

Bush was initially arrested on several drug charges, but he was charged Sept. 6 with second-degree murder, abandon/conceal dead body, and tampering with physical evidence.

Bradley was reportedly "Sam’s best friend" and his "only friend."

According to KNXV, Bradley recently graduated cum laude from Northern Arizona University and worked as an engineer.

His aunt, Melissa McNeal, told KNXV, "It’s devastating. He was just beginning his adulthood. I don’t feel a relief or anything because it doesn’t bring him back. It doesn’t fix anything."