Arizona

Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping

Published

1 week ago

March 3, 2026

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Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping

Two teenagers were fatally shot while camping northeast of Phoenix in May 2025.
Both Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were shot in the head, autopsy reports said.
A 31-year-old man was arrested and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths.

A 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot while camping with a female classmate northeast of Phoenix died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the first page of his autopsy report.

Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were camping just off State Route 87 near Mount Ord when the two were shot and killed. Investigators discovered their bodies, which had been moved into nearby brush to conceal them, on May 26, 2025.

The first page of Clark’s autopsy report, which The Arizona Republic obtained March 3, found that his death was a homicide with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The first page of Kjolsrud’s autopsy report also ruled her death a homicide with her cause of death being gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives ultimately arrested Thomas Brown, 31, of Chandler on Oct. 2, 2025, in connection with their deaths. Brown was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and remained in jail on a $2 million cash-only bond.

Detectives found Brown’s DNA on gloves inside Clark’s SUV that had Kjolsrud’s blood on them as well, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Partial autopsy reports made available following legal fight

While The Republic has obtained the first pages of both Clark’s and Kjolsrud’s autopsy reports, the remaining pages appeared to remain sealed as of March 3 since Simone Kjolsrud, Pandora’s mother, petitioned to have the autopsy reports sealed or redacted. Simone Kjolsrud argued that various details about her daughter and aspects of her personal life, potentially included in such documents, should remain private and outweigh the public’s right to know.

A Sept. 25, 2025, motion that sought to block the report’s release argued the report could contain information law enforcement hasn’t yet shared and could impair the ongoing criminal investigation.

“Simone Kjolsrud fears that, if released, her daughter’s Medical Examiner’s Report may end up on the internet or be broadcast on the news, which would undoubtedly cause additional trauma and even jeopardize her constitutional right to justice in this case,” the motion stated.

Kjolsrud asked that Clark’s autopsy be sealed as well, arguing that it would likely contain details similar to her daughter’s.

Matthew Kelley, an attorney representing The Republic and other Arizona media outlets, previously objected to the autopsies being sealed and asked that the temporary protective order be vacated.

“To be sure, these killings are particularly traumatic for a surviving family member,” Kelley wrote in his objection. “But the pain felt by a family member cannot override the public’s right to inspect public records reflecting the performance of law enforcement and other public agencies entrusted with investigating such crimes. A veil of secrecy only raises unnecessary speculation about such public performance.”

It was not immediately clear whether Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Fish, who initially ordered the autopsies remain sealed as he reviewed their contents, would unseal additional pages in their entirety or with redactions.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell.

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Arizona

These are Arizona’s coziest towns. Why they are perfect for a getaway

Published

11 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

These are Arizona’s coziest towns. Why they are perfect for a getaway

Arizona is known for popular tourist attractions like the Grand Canyon and the state’s capital, Phoenix, but there is still so much going on in the shadows of small towns in Arizona.

Geography website World Atlas ranked the six coziest towns in the Grand Canyon State. These towns have a lot of unique elements to offer, like beautiful red rock formations, outdoor activities and unique things to do. All of these combine to give quintessential small-town vibes.

Here are six cozy Arizona towns to visit and what to do there, as recommended by World Atlas.

Sedona

Sedona is one of Arizona’s most popular tourist towns and for good reason.

It’s known for beautiful red rocks and powerful energy vortexes, which are said to bring peace and tranquility to those in the area.

There are also numerous stunning hikes to take in Sedona. One of the most popular is Devils Bridge, which is a 4.6-mile trail featuring the area’s largest sandstone arch, giving you amazing views of the surrounding area.

Sedona also has a unique shopping experience at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. It features art galleries with local artists, along with clothing and souvenir shops that allow you to bring a little piece of Sedona home with you.

Bisbee

Bisbee is one of Arizona’s oldest towns that’s still brimming with culture.

The small mining town has been around since the 1800s and is said to be home to many ghosts. The Old Bisbee Ghost Tour takes you through town and explores the sites of many paranormal experiences and stories.

Bisbee also has a thriving arts district with galleries and museums like the Artemizia Foundation museum and Bisbee’s iconic art wall.

There are several historic hotels with architectural charm, like the Bisbee Grand Hotel, but don’t be surprised if you’re visited by a ghost.

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Wickenburg

Wickenburg is the perfect small town experience if you’re looking to get out of the city.

The Flying E Ranch allows for a relaxing stay while being stimulated with outdoor activities like archery, horse penning and corn hole.

Get a taste of the town’s history and visit Wickenburg’s Jail Tree, a 200-year-old mangled mesquite tree that is believed to be a makeshift jail during the town’s Wild West days.

Need more of the Wild West? Visit Vulture City, the town’s earliest settlements, discovered by Henry Wickenburg. The town was discovered in 1863 and is now a look into life in Arizona’s early days.

Williams

Williams is one of the stops on the iconic Route 66 and a close destination to the Grand Canyon.

Williams celebrates its place in car culture. Each summer, it hosts a historic car show that showcases unique and exclusive historic automobiles.

While visiting, it’s also essential to visit Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum. The cute little gas station is a perfect photo-op and is filled with Route 66 memorabilia.

Stay at or visit Raptor Ranch for a chance to have an up close a personal interaction with a raptor. The ranch is conveniently located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon with camping, glamping and RV spots available for overnight stays.

Prescott

Prescott is the perfect little town to get away from the Phoenix heat, while still having so much to offer. It stays about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix and has hiking trails and historic bars to explore.

Prescott is known for Whiskey Row, a stretch that boasts bars, shops and hotels that speak to the town’s Wild West character. The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is Arizona’s oldest frontier saloon, established in 1877, where infamous outlaws and lawmen were said to have visited.

Bashford Courts is a three-story antique mall filled with fine jewelry, boutiques and crafts. All the stores are small businesses. Bashford Courts is also a three-minute walk from Whiskey Row.

Watson Lake Park also has so many outdoor activities to offer, from hiking, fishing, paddleboarding and more.

Cottonwood

Cottonwood is the perfect destination for a chill weekend getaway.

The little town is right in the Verde Valley, giving close access to the Verde River with water activities like fishing and kayaking.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park has many walking and hiking trails right by the river for a relaxing walk.

Cottonwood is also in the heart of Arizona’s wine country and home to many wineries and tasting rooms.

March is when Cottonwood starts its farmers market back up, every Friday from 4-11 p.m. The market sells local and organic snacks and produce, accompanied by live music. It is located in Cottonwood’s Main Street plaza and is surrounded by restaurants and shops, making it the perfect Friday outing.

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Arizona

A guide to Spring Breaking in Arizona’s High Country

Published

23 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

A guide to Spring Breaking in Arizona’s High Country

FLAGSTAFF (AZFamily) — Spring break is here in Arizona for public universities and lots of high schools. Students and families are taking advantage of the week off and the nice but unseasonably warm temperatures across the state.

The High Country offers slightly cooler temperatures than in the valley and access to hiking, skiing, and national parks.

Flagstaff sits at 7,000 ft, tucked into the pine trees with expansive mountain views.

The weather this time of year is usually a gamble for spring breakers, but Ryan Randazzo with Discover Flagstaff said recent storms have left some snow on the peaks and great temperatures in town.

“It hasn’t been the snowiest winter, but we still have more than 40 inches of a base at Arizona Snow Bowl,” Randazzo said. “So it’s a great time to get up there and enjoy some sunny days on the slopes, and the weather here is just perfect. It’s still about 20 degrees cooler than Metro Phoenix and Tucson.”

He said the above-average temperatures make it perfect for outdoor adventure junkies.

“A little unusual for this time of year, but our trails are mostly open and snow-free at the lower elevation,” Randazzo said.

For those who want a more relaxing retreat there is plenty of shopping and local spots to eat at.

“In addition to our 200 restaurants, we’ve got 8 award-winning craft breweries,” Randazzo said. “And this time of year, with our unseasonably warm weather, is actually a pretty nice time to be out on the patio here in Flagstaff.”

Flagstaff is also a two hour drive or less from 9 national parks and monuments. The Grand Canyon is the most popular one, but for those looking to skip the lines, national monuments like Walnut Canyon are the way to go.

Alex Stork was visiting from Michigan and said you don’t get views like this in the Midwest.

“There’s nothing as high as this,” Stork said. “It’s beautiful out here. Easy, simple, I actually got a lifetime pass today.”

Outside of Flagstaff, people can hike in Sedona and then visit a spa. You could walk down classic Route 66 in Williams before stopping at Bearizona. Plus, for those don’t mind an easy two hour drive, they can hit Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Horseshoe Bend all in one day up in Page.

“You can’t beat Northern Arizona,” Stork said.

More information on actives to do in and around Flagstaff can be found at Discover Flagstaff’s website.

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Arizona

Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game

TEMPE – The Phoenix metro has not been kind to Arizona baseball through the first month of the season.

Arizona fell to rival ASU 10-4 on Tuesday night in front of a packed crowd at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Wildcats clawed back after falling behind 6-1, but the Sun Devils closed the door in the late innings.

The nonconference game was the first of five matchups between the rivals, with the UA hosting a 3-game Big 12 Conference series in early April followed by one more non-league game in Tempe.

Arizona (6-10) is now 0-4 in the Phoenix area, with three losses coming in the opening weekend College Baseball Series in Surprise. Arizona dropped to 0-3 in midweek games.

Collin McKinney got the start for the Wildcats, allowing four earned runs on five hits and six strikeouts. McKinney conceded one run in the first inning but escaped out of a bases loaded jam. He looked sharp until giving up a 2-run homer to ASU’s Dean Toigo in the fourth inning.

“We saw the velocity at times. We saw the breaking stuff,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “It was very encouraging from us on our side for him.“

The Sun Devils tacked on three more runs in the fourth, including a 2-run blast from Landon Hairston off reliever Matthew Martinez.

Arizona answered in the sixth inning when sophomore catcher Roman Meyers drilled a 450-feet 3-run homer to bring the score to 6-4. It was Meyers’ third homer of the season.

“He always has a chance. He’s got massive power,” Hale said. “So if he hits it he has a chance for a home run.”

Arizona’s five through nine hitters combined for six of the team’s eight hits, led by 2-hit games from Caleb Danzeisen and Cash Brennan.

Arizona’s offense, however, couldn’t keep up with the Sun Devils, who added runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull away. Wildcats pitchers gave up eight free bases on the night.

Arizona is back in action Friday when it begins Big 12 play at Utah. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST.

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