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Teen Found Burned to Death in Bonfire During Arizona Graduation Trip

A Nebraska family was celebrating the graduation of their son and brother, Parker League. Now, however, after what was supposed to be a graduation trip to Arizona, they’re preparing for his funeral.

Not only is the family on a grieving journey but they also are awaiting answers about the circumstances that led to his death.

The teen’s remains were found burning in a bonfire pit, and authorities consider his death malicious.

Parker’s body was found the day he was scheduled to return home.

The teen was visiting friends in Tempe, Arizona, before his body was found on June 12 in the Tonto National Forest, People reported. His trip was set to be from June 9 to June 12, but the day he was scheduled to return home, Parker’s body was found in a remote area of the forest called Bullfrog Canyon.

‘He was the nicest kid in the world,’ Parker’s older brother said.

“I knew he had a place to stay; I knew he got there,” Parker’s older brother Hunter League told ABC 15. “We texted … That’s about it. It’s hard to accept because he was the nicest kid in the world.”

Hunter also recounted the day he learned of his brother’s death.

“I got a call from my dad telling me to come home. I asked him ‘why’ about three times and the third time he tried to explain it, he just started breaking down,” he shared, according to ABC 15.

It was days before authorities told the League family the teen had been found.

His family was not immediately made aware that Parker’s body had been found. They filed a missing person’s report on June 15 with the Tempe Police Department. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has deemed his death a homicide.

“The death of Mr. League was malicious and is actively being worked by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit,” the sheriff’s office noted in a press release, per People. The coroner has yet to determine a cause of death.

Someone tried to use Parker’s debit card.

Campers who frequent this remote area say they’ve heard about recent crimes happening in Bullfrog Canyon, including theft. Hunter believes Parker may have been targeted because of an expensive watch he took with him on the trip. The teen left the rest of his belongings at a home in Tempe.

The family also found two unusual transactions associated with Parker’s bank account. “We basically found out that someone was using his debit card to get food and tried to pay their electric bill with it,” Hunter said, according to ABC 15.

No arrests have been made yet in the case.

The sheriff’s office says it is increasing patrols in the area, but so far no one has been apprehended.

“I hate to hone in on this specific issue but, I mean, we’re dealing with homelessness. We’re dealing with just a remote area; we’re dealing with areas that can only be accessed by 4×4 vehicles,” Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez said, per ABC 15.

The sheriff’s office said homicide detectives are following all leads in the case.