Grandson found dead miles from grandfather after going for help on hike

Stands for 1st Ld to BC-US-Gila Bend Bodies. Maricopa county Sheriff reported they were discovered on late Wednesday.

MCSO spokesman Chris Hegstrom said they have been identified as 63-year-old Thomas Gillespie and 12-year-old Robert Miller.

A search began after a woman called officials Wednesday afternoon to report her father and son hadn’t been heard from since Tuesday morning.

Hegstrom said the pair are believed to have been heading back to the trailhead after hiking for about six miles (9.6 km) on the trail, when the grandfather collapsed.

Investigators said the pair were seen leaving a local hotel on Tuesday morning, and that they were reportedly going to hike and take photographs along the Mormon Battalion Trail, which marks a route used during the Mexican-American War in the 1840s.

Authorities are suspecting that Gillepsie must have had a medical emergency and the extreme heat there of around 103 degrees took his life.

Miller was found with the keys to the vehicle, but whether they originally brought food, water and a cell phone with them is unknown at this time. None was found with their bodies, and they didn’t have a cellphone, he said.

The officials reported that it is supposed that the two hikers were going out to take pictures of the way between Gila Bend and Maricopa. He’s been teaching there for 23 years and was also a science teacher.

School Principal Anne Dudley said Thursday the entire staff was in shock. Gillepsie was praised to be a very patient and helpful human being.

“He challenged them with high-school-level science classes”.