She was found dressed in what investigators described as a "witch's gown," submerged in a livestock watering box in the middle of remote Arizona desert. No one has ever come forward to identify her.
The Discovery
On October 26, 2020, a hunter in rural Graham County, Arizona, discovered the body of a teenage girl partially submerged in a livestock watering trough within a small corral, roughly seven miles outside Artesia and thirteen miles south of Safford. The surrounding area consists almost entirely of open desert scrubland, with no other structures nearby.
An Unusual Setting
Graham County is sparsely populated, covering more than 4,600 square miles with a population of roughly 39,000, making an unexplained local disappearance unlikely to go unnoticed. The remote nature of the discovery site — accessible mainly through the corral itself — has raised questions among investigators about why the body was left somewhere it was likely to be found, rather than in the surrounding open desert.
Unanswered Questions
Investigators have not determined why "Artesia Doe" was in the area, and her unusual clothing — described as resembling a witch's gown — has never been explained, whether as a costume or otherwise. Her distance from any major population center, and the area's distance from typical migration routes from Mexico, have made her origin difficult to trace.
What Investigators Know
Artesia Doe is believed to have been between 13 and 22 years old, approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall, with short light brown hair. The condition of her remains prevented investigators from determining her weight or eye color, and the exact time of her death, believed to be sometime in 2020, remains uncertain.
Ongoing Efforts
Investigators have used facial reconstruction technology, made available through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in hopes of generating leads toward her identification.
FAQ
Has Artesia Doe been identified?
No. As of the available information, she remains unidentified, and no one has been charged in connection with her death.
How old was Artesia Doe?
Investigators believe she was between 13 and 22 years old at the time of her death.
Why is her clothing considered unusual?
She was found in what investigators described as a "witch's gown," a detail that has never been explained.