Hiker found dead in Arizona desert had 'plenty of water' with her, medical report says

November 04, 2021 6:26 PM

A 57-year-old woman died on Sept. 15, 2021, on Brown's Ranch trail in Scottsdale, police said. Her death was ruled an accident due to heat exposure. Ross D. Franklin AP

A Rhode Island woman's death was caused by heat exposure after her body was found in an Arizona desert in September, the medical examiner's office said.

Donna Miller, 57, and her husband began hiking the Brown's Ranch trail system in north Scottsdale around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 15, Scottsdale police said.

The temperature was 107.

Miller was dressed in "appropriate" hiking clothing and had "plenty of water" with her, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner wrote in her death report, which was signed on Oct. 13.

While hiking, Miller told her husband she felt dizzy and needed to rest, so they agreed to split up and meet later, the medical report says.

But the wife never made it to their meet-up spot.

The woman had hiked before, the report states, and was aware of the high temperature.

Scottsdale police and the fire department responded to a 911 call from her husband around 3:15 p.m.

Miller's body was found at 9 p.m., police said, about a half mile from where they were supposed to meet.

Her death was ruled an accident.

A toxicology report found caffeine and a prescribed medication in her system.

Certain popular hiking trails in Phoenix will now be limited when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning, according to a new program passed by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation on Oct. 28.

A temporary policy was enacted in July when 12 firefighters suffered heat-related issues after doing multiple rescues on Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, The Arizona Republic reported.

Though Brown's Ranch trail system — where Miller died — isn't included under the program, Phoenix city officials urge people to hike when it's cooler, like in the early morning or in the evenings.

City park rangers also encourage carrying a phone, wearing proper clothing, bringing plenty of water and going on hikes with another person.

If someone goes on a solo hike, let another person know the location and the start and end times.

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She's a journalism graduate from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She's based in Phoenix.