An Engineer Vanished After His Birthday, and His Body Was Found in Desert. Now, a Childhood Friend Is Charged

Mar. 15, 2025

Alijah Bradley.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

On Aug. 19, authorities found his body in the desert area near the town of Gila Bend, an hour away from Gilbert, the sheriff’s office says. His death was determined to be a homicide.

On Wednesday, Sep. 4, authorities arrested 23-year-old Samuel Bush on two charges, including murder, in connection with Bradley’s death, per the sheriff’s office.

The victim’s relative toldKPHOandABC 15that Bush and Bradley were childhood friends.

“We know that Alijah and Samuel were known to each other for many years prior to the homicide,” the sheriff’s office told PEOPLE.

Alijah Bradley MISSING Poster.Missing In Arizona/Facebook

Missing In Arizona/Facebook

Bradley’s family told ABC 15 that he went missing on Aug. 12, the day after his birthday. A family member told KPHO they reported him missing when he did not show up for work.

He had also failed to call his mother, which was out of the ordinary for him, relatives said, per KPHO and ABC 15.

Samuel Bush.Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

In aGoFundMecreated to assist with his funeral expenses, Bradley’s family is remembering the “bright and beloved” young man.

In a statement, Bradley’s mother told ABC 15 that her son loved the outdoors and the sun.

“The world will never experience his kindness again,” his mother, who is not named in the report, said in the statement. “Due to this individual’s brutal act, I can’t believe the world is going to miss out on Alijah and his future contributions to the world…He was my everything, and it is inconceivable to me that I have to wake up every day to a world without Alijah… I’m committing my life to obtaining justice for my son.”

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Bush was charged with second-degree intentional murder and concealing a body, per the sheriff’s office. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

source: people.com