Latest news with #YavapaiCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Prescott firefighter recruit killed in paragliding accident: 'Deeply painful time'
A young firefighter slated to graduate in June 2025 with the Prescott Fire Department died in a paragliding accident, according to the Prescott Fire Department. Dylan Wallace, 27, was identified May 19 as the person killed in the off-duty incident on May 16, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said. Emergency responders were called out to a wildland fire near Lakeshore Drive and Fain Road in Prescott Valley but later found out the fire was caused by a paraglider, piloted by Wallace, that crashed. When crews arrived at the scene about 7:45 a.m., the fire had already been contained to a small area, was no longer spreading and was extinguished. Wallace was found dead at the scene. The Sheriff's Office then took over the investigation. "We extend our deepest sympathies to Dylan's family, friends, fellow recruits, and all whose lives he touched and who cared for him," said Holger Durre, chief of the Prescott Fire Department. "This is a deeply painful time for many, and our thoughts are with those affected by this loss." Wallace was a recruit firefighter and a member of the Prescott/Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority Joint Fire Academy, the Prescott Fire Department confirmed. "Our deepest condolences go out to Dylan's family, friends, fellow recruits, and all who knew and cared for him," the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority said in a Facebook post. "We stand with our brothers and sisters at Prescott Fire during this difficult time." Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Prescott Fire recruit Dylan Wallace dies in paragliding accident
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Woman stabs roommate in his 90s dozens of times over hours, Arizona officials say
A woman accused of the 'savage' killing of her roommate, who was in his 90s, is facing life in prison under a plea agreement, Arizona officials said. Bridget Marie Nelson, from Cordes Lakes, pleaded guilty to premeditated first-degree murder and other charges, including aggravated domestic violence, in the deadly 2024 stabbing, Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane said in a May 2 news release. McClatchy News couldn't immediately reach Nelson's attorneys on May 8 for comment. Nelson, now 60, stabbed Carl Miller a total of 30 times on Feb. 15, 2024, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said in a May 3 Facebook post. Miller's body was found during a welfare check, officials said. Nelson initially said her roommate had gone on a trip to Las Vegas days before, but 'alert deputies noted inconsistencies in Nelson's story, and eventually discovered the victim inside the residence,' according to the county attorney's office. Prosecutors added that 'Nelson eventually confessed to stabbing the victim over several hours' and then 'taking some of his property.' In the release, McGrane described the killing as 'savage' and said the plea agreement 'ensures Ms. Nelson will spend the rest of her life in prison.' Nelson is scheduled to be sentenced in June. She faces life plus 55 years behind bars, the county attorney's office said. Cordes Lakes is about a 70-mile drive north from Phoenix.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ranch dog named 'Buford' honored for 'vital role' in saving missing toddler in Arizona
Buford, a rancher's dog in Arizona credited with helping protect and rescue a toddler who went missing in Arizona last week, is basking in glory as a hero. The 6-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix received an "Honorary Search and Rescue Certificate" and a vest by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office on April 22 for being a "source of comfort to the family and community," and playing "a vital role in representing the spirit of keeping our community safe," the law enforcement agency said in a post on Facebook. "Buford's vigilance and protective instincts, combined with Scottie Dunton's swift response, ensured Bodin's safe return to his family," Buford's certificate reads, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. "Your actions exemplify the highest standards of community service and canine heroism." Not only that, but Buford is also being showered with gifts from strangers for protecting the 2-year-old boy and leading him to safety, his owner, Scotty Dunton, told KPNX. "Toys, chew toys, snacks, you name it, just a little bit of everything," Dunton said, adding he has also been receiving messages for Buford from across the world. Need a break? The 2-year-old, identified as Bodin Allen by the Arizona Republic, was reported missing on April 14. The toddler had wandered away from his home in Seligman, Arizona, about 180 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and into rough terrain, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. A search and rescue party consisting of 40 members was put together to look for the toddler, and he was found after approximately 16 hours with Buford in the rancher's driveway, about seven miles away from his home. Dunton, at the time, had said he spotted the toddler just as he was headed to town. "When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman, had said. "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog." "I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added. Dunton's wife, Dawn, told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue, but the "child was in fairly good condition all things considered." "He was crying but Scotty was able to comfort him. His little face was all dirty and of course he was hungry and thirsty," Dawn said. "He is doing well now after some much needed rest in the safety of his home." Bodin's mother, Sarah Allen, told the Arizona Republic, she was tending to their 1-year-old child when the toddler wandered off in the afternoon of April 14, adding it was not unusual for Bodin to go outdoors and play in the dirt. A few minutes later when she went outside to look for her child, she couldn't find him anywhere. "My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something," Bodin's father, Corey Allen, told the Arizona Republic. "And he could be states away. Who knows what's going on? And that feeling just kept intensifying by the minute." Over the next few hours, which Corey described as "the weakest moment of our lives," search and rescue officials looked for the toddler far and wide. "I feel like I'm about to be ended as a person," Corey told the Arizona Republic. "I'm trying to hold my son in my arms, and he's not there." Bodin, meanwhile, dressed only in pajama bottoms, a tank top, and sneakers, was wandering under the full moon, somewhere in the seven miles between the Allen property and a ranch guarded by the 150-pound dog Buford. Around 8 a.m. the next morning, as Scotty was getting ready to go into town, he saw Buford coming down the fence line with a little blond boy and alerted the family. "I've just had the most emotional meltdown. I've never cried that hard," Corey said, describing the moment before he found out his son was found. Sarah said their son was completely unfazed by the incident and "acted like nothing even happened." The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office also celebrated Bodin by giving him "a challenge coin" to acknowledge "their courageous spirit and commitment to helping others." Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before Buford found the boy. Buford "loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said. "We chose him from the litter because of his chill demeanor," Dawn said, adding that Buford is a livestock guardian breed, and it is their nature to roam and protect. "Buford has always been a natural babysitter, whether it be with baby animals or with children," Dawn added. Contributing: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY / Caitlin McGlade, Arizona Republic Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranch dog 'Buford' celebrated for saving missing toddler in Arizona
USA Today
26-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
Ranch dog named 'Buford' honored for 'vital role' in saving missing toddler in Arizona
Ranch dog named 'Buford' honored for 'vital role' in saving missing toddler in Arizona The 2-year-old was missing for about 16 hours before appearing with Buford in his owner's driveway. Show Caption Hide Caption Ranch dog rescues missing child in dangerous terrain of Arizona A missing 2-year-old child is miraculously found after spending the night in the rough terrain of Seligman, Arizona all thanks to a courageous ranch dog. Buford, a rancher's dog in Arizona credited with helping protect and rescue a toddler who went missing in Arizona last week, is basking in glory as a hero. The 6-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix received an "Honorary Search and Rescue Certificate" and a vest by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office on April 22 for being a "source of comfort to the family and community," and playing "a vital role in representing the spirit of keeping our community safe," the law enforcement agency said in a post on Facebook. "Buford's vigilance and protective instincts, combined with Scottie Dunton's swift response, ensured Bodin's safe return to his family," Buford's certificate reads, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. "Your actions exemplify the highest standards of community service and canine heroism." Not only that, but Buford is also being showered with gifts from strangers for protecting the 2-year-old boy and leading him to safety, his owner, Scotty Dunton, told KPNX. "Toys, chew toys, snacks, you name it, just a little bit of everything," Dunton said, adding he has also been receiving messages for Buford from across the world. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Buford the dog meets 2-year-old Bodin Allen, lost boy he led to safety Buford the dog is credited with guiding 2-year-old Bodin Allen to safety after the boy wandered from home on April 14, 2025. Yavapai County Sheriff's Office 'I can't believe that kid made it that far' The 2-year-old, identified as Bodin Allen by the Arizona Republic, was reported missing on April 14. The toddler had wandered away from his home in Seligman, Arizona, about 180 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and into rough terrain, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. A search and rescue party consisting of 40 members was put together to look for the toddler, and he was found after approximately 16 hours with Buford in the rancher's driveway, about seven miles away from his home. Dunton, at the time, had said he spotted the toddler just as he was headed to town. "When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman, had said. "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog." "I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added. Dunton's wife, Dawn, told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue, but the "child was in fairly good condition all things considered." "He was crying but Scotty was able to comfort him. His little face was all dirty and of course he was hungry and thirsty," Dawn said. "He is doing well now after some much needed rest in the safety of his home." How did the toddler go missing? Bodin's mother, Sarah Allen, told the Arizona Republic, she was tending to their 1-year-old child when the toddler wandered off in the afternoon of April 14, adding it was not unusual for Bodin to go outdoors and play in the dirt. A few minutes later when she went outside to look for her child, she couldn't find him anywhere. "My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something," Bodin's father, Corey Allen, told the Arizona Republic. "And he could be states away. Who knows what's going on? And that feeling just kept intensifying by the minute." Over the next few hours, which Corey described as "the weakest moment of our lives," search and rescue officials looked for the toddler far and wide. "I feel like I'm about to be ended as a person," Corey told the Arizona Republic. "I'm trying to hold my son in my arms, and he's not there." Arizona Republic reporter speaks with rescued boy, parents Arizona Republic reporter Caitlin McGlade speaks with rescued boy Bodin Allen and his parents, Sarah and Corey Allen. Bodin, meanwhile, dressed only in pajama bottoms, a tank top, and sneakers, was wandering under the full moon, somewhere in the seven miles between the Allen property and a ranch guarded by the 150-pound dog Buford. Around 8 a.m. the next morning, as Scotty was getting ready to go into town, he saw Buford coming down the fence line with a little blond boy and alerted the family. "I've just had the most emotional meltdown. I've never cried that hard," Corey said, describing the moment before he found out his son was found. Sarah said their son was completely unfazed by the incident and "acted like nothing even happened." The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office also celebrated Bodin by giving him "a challenge coin" to acknowledge "their courageous spirit and commitment to helping others." Buford loves kids Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before Buford found the boy. Buford "loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said. "We chose him from the litter because of his chill demeanor," Dawn said, adding that Buford is a livestock guardian breed, and it is their nature to roam and protect. "Buford has always been a natural babysitter, whether it be with baby animals or with children," Dawn added. Contributing: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY / Caitlin McGlade, Arizona Republic Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
‘Guardian' dog protects 2-year-old: Man recalls how his pet saved toddler missing in Arizona wilderness
Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees, became a guardian angel for a toddler wandering in the remote Arizona wilderness. As his owner recalled in a video the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office shared, his dog found the two-year-old while patrolling and directed the missing boy to safety. 'On Monday, just before 5 pm, Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a missing 2-year-old child who wandered off from his home in Seligman. Over 40 search and rescue members, several deputies, DPS, a DPS ranger, and Coconino County Sheriff's deputies immediately headed to the property. After 16 hours of searching, a rancher approximately 7 miles away reported that a young child had walked onto his property. Upon arrival at the ranch, deputies confirmed this was indeed the missing boy,' the department wrote. According to the department, the ranch owner saw his dog sitting near the entrance without moving. Upon investigating, he came across the toddler, who had walked all night after wandering from home. The kid told the man that the dog had found him after he had lied down under a tree - in an area where coyotes are often spotted. The department later thanked Buford for staying with the kid and bringing him to safety. Social media users are hailing the dog as a hero, with many saying he deserves all the treats in the world for being the toddler's guardian angel. Expressing the sentiment, an individual posted, 'We have a tradition for search and rescue dogs that when a dog finds a subject, they get a steak. This dog clearly deserves one.' Another added, 'People saying this is suspicious and a child this age can't got that far need to stop. I spent several years in Search and Rescue, and I promise you toddlers and small children can move farther and faster than you would believe,' referencing speculative remarks. A third commented, 'With all the doom and gloom on the news, I'll take this wonderful ending.' A fourth wrote, 'I'm shocked the kiddo walked that far. And I'm so proud of this dog. Good boy!!!' What are your thoughts on this owner's story about his dog?
