A man out hiking with two new acquaintances disappeared from the trail in front of them and was later found to have fallen about 100 feet to his death after an extensive search by Yavapai County search and rescue teams.
No foul play is suspected in man’s death.
On Thursday, Oct. 8, around 6:15 p.m., the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding an overdue hiker in Boynton Canyon, northwest of Sedona. Two men had been hiking with 29-year-old Jordan Sean Brashears from Washington state whom they met on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
On Oct. 8, the trio went on a hike together intending to visit ancient ruins in the canyon.
They were about half a mile from the Enchantment Resort on the east wall of the canyon near a set of ruins when Brashears went ahead of them.
At that time Brashears was hiking bare foot and his two companions lost sight of him around a corner.
When the area came into view, Brashears was gone. They called out and searched for at least an hour without success and then contacted the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies met with the reporting parties at the trailhead and gathered information to confirm Brashears’ identity and last known location.
A team of searchers along with a YCSO Forest Patrol Deputy searched around the ruins as far as they could safely in the dark and saw no sign of Brashears.
The following morning, Friday, Oct. 9, deputies were organizing a more extensive search involving ground searchers, a drone and helicopter. During this time one of the men who was part of the trio the day before, was assisting with the search, found a water jug apparently belonging to Brashears on the east side of the canyon. Members of the YCSO search team investigated further and found a pair of shoes, a cell phone and then Brashears’ body around 9 a.m.
Deputies indicated that Brashears appeared to have fallen more than 100 feet from above where he landed and was found. Although not able to determine exactly how he got there, deputies believe he hiked away from his two companions and around the corner from the last place seen intending to climb one or two ledges/levels higher and fell from the edge.
There is no indication Brashears did this on purpose. No foul play is suspected. Brashears’ body was released to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner and next kin has been notified.
Brashears’ friends produced this video to remember him at his celebration of life in October 2020.
“Jordan’s Last Goodbye: Honoring The Life of Jordan Brashears My Angel Brother”
