Missing Indigenous woman found dead in Scottsdale canal

A woman whose body was recovered from a Scottsdale canal has been identified as someone who had been reported missing days earlier, according to a joint update from Scottsdale and Salt River police. Working with the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office, investigators have made an initial identification of the woman as Passion Elliah Schurz, 28, the Scottsdale Police Department and Salt River Police Department said in separate March 29 statements. Schurz was reported missing on March 22 from the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community and was found dead in a Scottsdale canal on March 28.

A missing-person flyer distributed by the Salt River Police Department stated Schurz was last seen on March 19 near Dobson and Jackrabbit roads within the community. The flyer described her as 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. A separate March 26 post by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA, a national advocacy organization, also circulated her information and asked the public to help find her.

Investigators identified Schurz based on specific tattoos, physical characteristics and a clothing description, Bolin said. One of the missing person flyers noted she had a tattoo reading “Pearl” on her left arm. Dental records will be used to formally confirm her identity, police said.

Schurz’s family has been notified. Scottsdale police crisis counselors assisted with the notification and were supporting the family along with resources from the Salt River Police Department. There were no injuries consistent with fractures, stab wounds or gunshot wounds, police said.

The medical examiner was still determining the official cause and manner of death. A full report, including toxicology results, was expected to take several weeks. The investigation remained ongoing.

Detectives from both agencies were working with the medical examiner to determine how Schurz died and how she ended up in the canal. The Scottsdale Police Department was leading the death investigation, while the Salt River Police Department was leading the missing person's case. "

This is not the outcome anyone looking for Passion Schurz was hoping for," Bolin said. "

We extend our most heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and community during this difficult time." Anyone with information was asked to call the Scottsdale Police Department at 480-312-5000. Rey Covarrubias Jr. covers business and breaking news for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

Email him at: rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.