She checked in for help with trauma. Three days later, her tracking bracelet was found broken in her room, and she was gone.
Elizabeth Breck, a 46-year-old Tucson High School teacher and mother of two, disappeared from the Sierra Tucson treatment facility in Pinal County, Arizona, on January 13, 2019. More than six years later, she has never been found.
Checking In for Help
Breck checked into Sierra Tucson's 30-day trauma program on January 10, 2019, on the advice of her psychiatrist. She spent her first night in the facility's intake unit for observation and was cleared the next morning as not a threat to herself or others, then moved to a residential unit that wasn't locked down.
The Day She Vanished
That Sunday afternoon, Breck's tracking bracelet — a Bluetooth-style device patients at the facility were required to wear — was found removed and destroyed in her room, along with her cell phone, car keys, and other belongings. Only her ID and some cash were missing. A behavioral health technician later reported seeing and approaching her on the campus that day, though what was said between them was never disclosed. It was the last confirmed sighting of her.
A Search With No Leads
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office searched the facility's 160-acre grounds and surrounding desert on foot, with dogs, and with air support, both immediately after her disappearance and again in a follow-up search weeks later. Neither search found any trace of her. Investigators said they didn't suspect foul play, though her family has pushed back on that framing, noting temperatures in the area dropped to around 30 degrees at night and that leaving on foot without her phone, wallet, or car would have been entirely out of character.
Questions About the Facility
Breck's family filed formal complaints against Sierra Tucson with Arizona's Department of Health Services and an independent accreditation body, alleging the facility hadn't followed its own care guidelines, lacked video surveillance, and failed to notice or respond appropriately when her tracking bracelet was destroyed. The facility's parent company, Acadia Healthcare, had faced other lawsuits and complaints at Sierra Tucson and related facilities around the same period, including a separate 2019 wrongful death case involving a different patient. Arizona's health department investigated Breck's case but was ultimately unable to substantiate the family's complaints.
Still Searching
Breck's brother, Christopher, has continued speaking publicly on her behalf and helped raise funds for a private investigator to work alongside law enforcement. Her family and friends have described her as an outgoing, well-liked teacher deeply involved in her school community, dance groups, and support groups for trauma survivors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Elizabeth Breck ever been found?
No. Despite extensive searches, she remains missing more than six years later.
Do investigators suspect foul play?
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office has said it doesn't currently suspect foul play, though her family has questioned this given the circumstances of her disappearance.
Did the treatment facility face any consequences?
Arizona's Department of Health Services investigated complaints filed by Breck's family but was unable to substantiate them.