Sedona AZ (October 13, 2020) – On October 8, 2020, around 6:15 PM, YCSO received a 911 call regarding an overdue hiker in Boynton Canyon which is located west of Sedona. Two men had been hiking with 29-year-old Jordan Brashears from Washington state whom they met the day before. This day, October 8, 2020, the trio went on a hike together intending to visit ancient ruins in the canyon. They were about half a mile from the Enchantment Resort on the east wall of the canyon near a set of ruins when Jordan went ahead of them. At that time Jordan was hiking bare foot and his two companions lost sight of him around a corner. When the area came into view, Jordan was gone. They called out and searched for at least an hour without success and then contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies met with the reporting parties at the trailhead and gathered information to confirm Jordan’s identity and last known location. A team of searchers along with a YCSO Forest Patrol Deputy searched around the ruins as far as they could safely in the dark and saw no sign of Jordan. The following morning, deputies were organizing a more extensive search involving ground searchers, a drone and helicopter. During this time one of the men who was part of the trio the day before, was assisting with the search, found a water jug apparently belonging to Jordan on the east side of the canyon. Members of the YCSO search team investigated further and found a pair of shoes, a cell phone and then Jordan’s body around 9AM.
Deputies indicated that Jordan appeared to have fallen more than 100’ from above where he landed and was found. Although not able to determine exactly how he got there, deputies believe he hiked away from his two companions and around the corner from the last place seen intending to climb one or two ledges/levels higher and fell from the edge. There is no indication Jordan did this on purpose or that foul play was involved. Jordan’s body was released to the medical examiner and next kin has been notified.