Current:Home > NewsCalifornia woman falls 140 feet to her death while hiking on with husband, daughter in Sedona -Elevate Capital Network
California woman falls 140 feet to her death while hiking on with husband, daughter in Sedona
View
Date:2025-04-15 06:56:27
A California woman died after falling down a 140-foot cliff while hiking on a difficult trail with her husband and 1-year-old daughter in Sedona, Arizona, authorities said.
Zaynab Joseph, 40, was found seriously injured by a group of hikers who stopped after hearing yelling along the Bear Mountain trail, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
While members of the group called 911, one of the hikers went down an embankment and found that Joseph was still breathing. She died shortly after, the sheriff's office said.
Joseph's husband and daughter were flown off the mountain in a helicopter, and Joseph's body was recovered, the department said.
Zaynab Joseph's family were renting an Airbnb in Sedona, sheriff's office says
Joseph and her family were renting an Airbnb in Sedona at the time of the incident, according to the department. The sheriff's office interviewed multiple hikers coming off the mountain, but the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
A spokesperson with the sheriff's office told USA TODAY on Wednesday that "nothing has been ruled out or concluded yet."
Bear Mountain trail in Sedona is considered hard
With about 2,000 feet of elevation in just over 2 miles to a peak, Bear Mountain trail in Sedona is listed as hard on the AllTrails hiking app.
"It's a rugged trail," the site says. "Some sections are on pure rock at an almost vertical drop. Wear shoes with good traction!"
Recent hikers on the trail report having to do some rock scrambling and encountering "quite steep" conditions.
More about Zaynab Joseph
Friends and family took to Facebook to remember the devoted mother of three young daughters.
“She had a heart of gold and was very dear to all of us,” wrote Farwa Azidi, who described Joseph as her sister, friend and confidant. “No words can describe the pain our families are going through, especially her husband and three young children.”
Leila Hassan wrote that Joseph was “a friend and a sister of my Islamic community.”
“The community is in shock,” she wrote. “Please keep her family in your prayers to get through this tough time.”
Joseph was “the most caring, supporting and nonjudgmental person you’ll ever meet,” wrote longtime friend Maryam Sadat. “Her girls are the smartest little ones I had ever spoken to and I’m shattered for their loss.”
A LinkedIn profile for Joseph lists her as a part-time teacher in Garden Grove, California, and says she went to college at the University of Toledo in northwestern Ohio.
In a Facebook post on Oct. 27, 2021, Joseph wrote: "Life is too short."
In the comments she elaborated: "It’s been crossing my mind. It always has actually. I think it shapes some of my personality."
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com
veryGood! (44516)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- All the Details on E!'s 2023 Oscars Red Carpet Experience
- Russia charges Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, reports say
- The Future Of The Afghan Girls Robotics Team Is Precarious
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Jenna Ortega Has Some Changes in Mind for Wednesday Season 2
- Feel Like You're Addicted To Your Phone? You're Not Alone
- Outlast's Jill Ashock Promises a Rude Awakening for Viewers Expecting Just Another Survival Show
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- In The U.S., Google Searches For 'Dating' Have Reached A 5-Year High
Ranking
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Facebook's Most Viewed Article In Early 2021 Raised Doubt About COVID Vaccine
- 2023 Coachella & Stagecoach Packing Guide: 12 Festival Dresses That Will Steal the Show
- Easter avalanche in French Alps kills 6, authorities say
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Pope Francis leads Easter Sunday mass to big crowds in Vatican Square
- South African Facebook Rapist caught in Tanzania after police manhunt
- Remains of Michigan airman killed in World War II's Operation Tidal Wave identified 79 years later
Recommendation
Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
'Startup Wife' Satirizes Tech Culture And Boardroom Sexism — From Experience
China's early reaction to U.S.-Taiwan meeting is muted, but there may be more forceful measures to come
Biden Pushes Cybersecurity Upgrades For Critical Infrastructure After Recent Hacks
Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
The MixtapE! Presents Tim McGraw, Becky G, Maluma and More New Music Musts
Jesse Spencer Is Returning to Chicago Fire Following Taylor Kinney's Temporary Leave
Why Indie Brands Are At War With Shein And Other Fast-Fashion Companies