During the past 12 hours the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has been involved with three separate Search and Rescue missions. Two of the calls for help related to missing hikers have been resolved with the individuals being located. Search and Rescue members are still looking for the last remaining hiker.
At 8:30 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a call related to a missing hiker. Robin Byrd (age 51) had gone hiking in the Superstition Mountains and was supposed to be picked up at the Peralta Trailhead at 6 p.m. She never showed up to meet her friends so they called us at 8:30 p.m. for help
It should be noted, PCSO Search and Rescue was also called to search for Robin Byrd during December of 2012 in the Superstition Mountains after friends reported her missing. PCSO Air Unit located her and she was taken to safety on that incident. Robin stated she was searching for the “Lost Duchman’s Gold Mine” when she because lost on that occasion. PCSO Search and Rescue is still looking for her on this call with the assistance of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue team.
At 8:45 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a call related to a missing ATV rider. A 39-year-old female had gotten into a verbal dispute after drinking alcohol with her husband. The female was upset and walked away following the argument. She was missing for 2 to 3 hours before we received the call. She was returned home safely.
At 10:30 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a call related to three male hikers who went for a day hike in the Superstition Mountains and were supposed to return by 4 p.m. This morning at 12:30 a.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Air Unit located a light source near a trail. Search and Rescue members were sent to investigate and located the three missing hikers.
The hikers said they had met with Robin Byrd around 4 p.m. several miles into the trail. Robin had given them wrong direction to get to the parking lot at the trailhead and they became lost.