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Body of missing Arizona woman found near landfill; MCSO investigates case as a homicide

By and
Updated  December 14, 2023 5:22pm MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

MOBILE, Ariz. - A mystery in Maricopa: a woman initially reported missing since November 25 was found dead at a landfill on December 5, and now the sheriff's office is investigating the case as a homicide.

The body of 38-year-old Crystal Uptain was found in the Butterfield Station Landfill in Mobile, which is west of Maricopa.

There have been no arrests, and many who knew the victim are stunned at the news.

Missing woman's body found in Mobile landfill

"Pretty out of the blue.. it's just.. unexpected, and I don't know what else to say about it honestly," said Erik Bontreger, who grew up with Crystal. They attended high school together in the East Valley and even when she moved to Maricopa, he says they stayed in touch.

"She was one of those people of light. She just brought joy to people in her life. There was never ever a time that I did not enjoy speaking with Crystal or having her around."

Now he's in shock, wondering why she ended up dead at a landfill station in Mobile. The scene is about a half hour away from her Maricopa home near State Route 347 and Honeycutt Road.

Crystal Uptain

Last Tuesday, MCSO's homicide unit responded to the landfill scene after deputies found suspicious circumstances and unexplained injuries on Uptain's body.

Investigators say she was reported missing to Maricopa Police just after Thanksgiving on Nov. 25.

Neighbors who spoke with us off-camera say they had last seen Uptain in October and knew something was wrong when MCSO searched her home on Monday night.

We knocked on Uptain's door and a man who admitted to being her boyfriend told FOX 10 he reported her missing, but declined to comment further.

Bontreger just wants answers about the mysterious murder of his friend.

"I want some answers. I want justice for Crystal.. to have it happen to her is unconscionable. Like I said, it doesn’t even register. I don’t know what she could have done to warrant this."

A spokesperson with MCSO did confirm that Uptain's boyfriend and grandmother reported her missing.

If you have any information that can help, contact MCSO at (602) 876-1000.

Area where the body was found

Crime and Public SafetyMaricopa CountyNews