An 18-year-old high school graduate from Nebraska was found dead under suspicious circumstances while celebrating his graduation in Arizona.

The lifeless body of Parker League was discovered on June 12 in the remote Bulldog Canyon, located in the Tonto National Forest, where he had been visiting as part of his trip to Tempe. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has classified his death as an apparent act of malice, and the official cause is yet to be determined by the medical examiner.

According to Sergeant Joaquin Enriquez, a police spokesperson, League’s body was found in a burning bonfire. The investigation aims to uncover the nature of the relationship between League and the person he was visiting in Arizona. At this time, the police are unsure whether the person was a family friend, a close friend, or someone he had recently met. The circumstances surrounding League’s death remain under investigation.

Hunter League, Parker’s brother, has speculated that Parker may have been targeted due to his expensive watch. The family also identified two unusual transactions linked to Parker’s bank account, when his debit card was used to purchase food and attempt to pay an electric bill.

Devastated by the news, Hunter described Parker as “the kindest person you could meet” and expressed the difficulty of accepting the tragic loss. The family filed a missing person report with the Tempe police on June 15 after losing contact with Parker on June 10, two days before his body was found.

As of now, no arrests have been made. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has amplified patrols in the area due to the incident. Sergeant Enriquez highlighted the challenges posed by the remote location and emphasized the importance of exploring all possible leads.