A 55-year-old man who was considered missing after leaving a West Phoenix group home has been found dead.
According to Sergeant Chris Berrelleza of the Phoenix Police Department, on July 9, 2026, at approximately 2:25 p.m., a police assistant responded to the area of 61st Avenue and Indianola Avenue regarding a reported missing person.
During the initial investigation, staff at the group home stated that Mr. Dean Emerson had left the residence roughly 20 minutes prior to the call for service. Mr. Emerson was entered into the missing persons database.
Later that evening, at about 11:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to 63rd Drive and Indian School Road for reports of an unresponsive adult male. Fire personnel arrived and pronounced the individual deceased. The man’s appearance was consistent with the description of the missing person; however, a positive identification could not be made at the scene.
There were no obvious signs of trauma.
The Office of the Medical Examiner responded and took custody of the remains. The decedent’s name was not entered into the initial report and was not connected to the missing person investigation at that time.
On July 10, 2026, detectives issued a SAFE Alert for Mr. Emerson. On July 11, 2026, the Medical Examiner notified detectives that the deceased individual from 63rd Avenue and Indian School Road had been positively identified as Dean Emerson.
The cause of death will be determined upon completion of the Medical Examiner’s final report.
Foul play is not suspected.
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