Overview

• More than 200 people gathered with candles on Oct. 19 in Rainbow Valley to remember the 42-year-old father, husband, and friend.
• Upton was reported missing around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 after attempting to cross Waterman’s Wash along Narramore Road, and his truck was later found off 214th Avenue without him.
• Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office recovered his body on Oct. 13 a considerable distance from the vehicle following storms that dropped about 1.3 inches of rain in the area.
• A deputy said the wash rose to roughly the hood of the truck and that water pressure likely prevented escape and caused windows and the windshield to fail.
• Family members and neighbors are calling for infrastructure and safety improvements, including a bridge or warning system, to address recurring flood danger on the route.