Missing horseback rider found dead near Rio Verde, MCSO deputies say

Missing horseback rider found dead near Rio Verde, officials say

Jillian Underschultz, according to officials, went missing after she left her Scottsdale-area home on March 9 while on a horse. She was found dead on March 10. FOX 10's Nicole Garcia reports.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - A missing horseback rider has been found dead near Rio Verde after her horse returned home without her Wednesday afternoon.

According to Maricopa County deputies, 58-year-old Jillian Underschultz left on horseback from her Scottsdale-area home at around 2:30 p.m. on March 9.

She typically rode her horse in a desert area near 144th Street and Hawknest Road. Her horse returned two hours later, but Underschultz was nowhere to be found.

Deputies confirmed that her body was located Thursday afternoon.

Officials say there are no signs of foul play or any suspicious circumstances in Underschultz's death, and an investigation is ongoing.

Professional guides say trail rides have become more popular in the area where Underschultz was found.

"The trails are easy, but if you go off trail, everything’s out to get you," said Shelby McGarry with Wild West Horse Adventures. "There are spikes on every plant, so it’s not very forgiving, but it is quite beautiful."

McGarry, an experienced rider, said there are several hazards in the desert that can unpredictably spook a horse.

"If a cholla comes and gets your horse in the flank, they’ll just take off, no matter how good they are," said McGarry.