Hiker's body found in Cave Creek days after she was reported missing

The body of 60-year-old Kathleen Patterson was found on Sept. 28, days after she was last heard from while hiking on the Spur Cross Trail in Cave Creek.

MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. - A hiker in Cave Creek missing for days was found dead on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Kathleen Patterson was last heard from while on the Spur Cross Trail on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 25.

Patterson, 60, was seen leaving her home to go on a hike around 7:30 a.m. wearing a green tank top, shorts, a white visor and a royal blue backpack.

Patterson’s family said she was an avid hiker and was last seen leaving her residence to go hiking around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

She sent her husband of 37 years a text message 2 ½ hours later to say she had gotten off the hiking route but was OK and had plenty of water but was not heard from again.

Sheriff’s officials issued a missing person bulletin Sunday night after Patterson’s car was found in the trailhead parking lot.

"Unfortunately, she was found deceased by a volunteer searcher off trail in the Spur Cross conservation area at approximately 8:00 a.m.," stated MCSO's Calbert Gillett on Wednesday.

MCSO says there appears to be no signs of foul play and detectives continue to investigate this case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.