PEORIA, Ariz. — An 82-year-old man reported missing last month was later found deceased in the West Valley, according to the Peoria Police Department.
Stanley Callahan was last seen alive on April 7 after he left his home on foot and didn't return. He didn't take his medication with him. Police conducted a search and released information to the media but couldn't locate Callahan.
On April 16, police received a call for a suspicious circumstance in the wash area near 91st Avenue and Thunderbird Road. Callahan's body was found in this location.
Peoria police are now investigating Callahan's death but investigators don't believe foul play was involved and no suspects are currently being sought.
"This is obviously not the outcome that everyone was hoping for, and we would like to extend our condolences to Stanley’s family who has since been notified of his passing," police wrote in a statement.
UP TO SPEED
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
