PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The family of 42-year-old Vince Upton, who tragically lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters this week in Rainbow Valley, is speaking out, criticizing the response and search efforts by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Upton’s body was found nearly 36 hours after his truck was located in a flooded wash, prompting questions about the timeliness and coordination of the search operation.
Upton’s vehicle was discovered on Sunday around 3:30 a.m., however, Upton was not found with it. “You see things like this on the news, and you feel empathy and sadness for other families, but you never imagine it could happen to your own,” said Upton’s niece, Auston Patterson.
After Upton’s disappearance, his family and friends took matters into their own hands, searching on ATVs, horseback, and on foot in an attempt to locate him. Meanwhile, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, which was tasked with leading the search, faced severe weather conditions that delayed their efforts.
The family expressed frustration over what they believe was a lack of action by the authorities. “There was a lot of feeling around the lack of effort from the people who should have been searching,” Patterson said. “Personally, I didn’t see a search team there, maybe an hour before we found him.”
The family has since taken to social media, releasing a statement expressing their dissatisfaction with the Sheriff’s Office’s response. They claimed that the Sheriff’s Office did not conduct a continuous, coordinated search, particularly in the critical early hours after Upton’s truck was discovered.
“It felt abandoned. It felt very insensitive,” Patterson said.
In response to the criticism, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office issued a detailed statement. They explained that extreme weather conditions hindered their ability to conduct an aerial search, and at one point, the flight crew had to make an emergency landing. The Sheriff’s Office further stated that, due to dangerous water conditions, they were unable to deploy swiftwater technicians immediately.
The statement also acknowledged that the situation was complicated by numerous other life-threatening emergencies and flash floods in the area. By the following day, the Sheriff’s Office mobilized a large-scale search operation, and three hours later, Upton’s body was found, several miles downstream from where his truck was located.
To honor Upton’s memory and support his family, a candlelight vigil has been scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. at Narramore Rd and Waterman Wash. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help Upton’s wife and three children during this incredibly difficult time.
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