Flagstaff – An Oregon resident, Benjamin Mota, is in custody after the body of a 38-year-old woman also from Oregon who was considered to be possibly missing and endangered was found dead in northern Arizona.
According to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, on April 27, 2021, they received information from the Milwaukie Police Department in Oregon of a possible missing and endangered female, Melisa Rose Wheeler, traveling with Mota last known to be in the Flagstaff area.
Working with the Milwaukie Police Department, Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to ascertain a possible location where the couple may have been camping. The area indicated was Forest Service Road 776 off Highway 89, north of Fernwood. Deputies responding to the area began contacting campers and handing out flyers of the couple.
From the flyer, a camper recognized the Wheeler and identified a camping location where the couple was last seen. In investigating the location, the body of Wheeler was found.
Wheeler was last known to be traveling with Mota on vacation.
Mota returned to Oregon in Wheeler’s vehicle where he was taken into custody on unrelated charges. Evidence gathered during the initial investigation resulted in a 2nd Degree Homicide warrant for Mota’s arrest.
Mota is currently being held on a one-million-dollar cash bond.