Body of missing Farmington man found in Arizona

• A bank account at Wells Fargo titled "Cavanaugh Daughter's Benefit Fund is Account Number 8337799830.
• There is also a GoFundMe account to benefit the family of the late Craig Cavanaugh at www.GoFundMe.com/craigcavanaughmemorial.

FARMINGTON — Deputies in Arizona have recovered the body of missing 44-year-old Farmington resident Craig Cavanaugh, the Farmington Police Department said in a release.

Police agencies in Arizona have taken over the death investigation, and they have two suspects they did not identify. 

Earlier in the search police released photos of two men using Cavanaugh’s credit cards in Payson, Glendale, and Peoria between July 5 and July 7.  The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said the investigation determined they were not considered suspects in Cavanaugh's disappearance. 

Cavanaugh’s body was identified Aug. 28 in Coconino County, Arizona, Farmington Police Department Spokesperson Nicole Brown said in a press release.

“Farmington police detectives have been working closely with both Coconino and Navajo County in their search for Craig since he went missing in early July,” the Aug. 28 release stated.  “Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office are now taking over this case, as a death investigation. There have been two suspects identified in this case, and it is still an active investigation.”

New details released

Cavanaugh's body was located on Aug. 5, in a wooded area along Arizona Highway 260 outside Heber, Arizona, according to a Coconino County Sheriff's Office press release. issued on the afternoon of Aug. 29. 

Law enforcement were able to identify two possible suspects they believe were with Cavanaugh in Payson on July 4.

One of the suspects was located and interviewed, and shared information which led to the location of Cavanaugh's body. The body was identified through fingerprints.

The two possible suspects were not identified in the press release. 

Sheriff's offices in Coconio and Navajo counties searched in the Woods Canyon Lake area, just outside Forest Lakes, Arizona based on a tip received by Farmington detectives. They did not find anything during that search.

Cavanaugh’s family, friends and a wide network of volunteers have been searching for him since he was last seen in Farmington on July 4, 2019, heading to a job in Peoria, Arizona.

He never reached Peoria, and police say the last known location of Cavanaugh’s phone was in Payson, Arizona.

Family opens account, seeks donations

The Help Us Find Craig Cavanaugh Facebook page posted an update at 8:39 p.m. on Aug. 28 that was attributed to Cavanaugh's family, stating he was found deceased.

"He was a beloved father of two daughters, Micaylah and Gracie, a loving son, devoted fiancé, nephew, cousin and friend," according to the Facebook post. "Since he went missing on July 4th, we prayed everyday for a different ending and we are completely devastated to learn this news."

The post stated his family was thankful for the outpouring of prayers, love and support from the community. 

It also states the family is requesting help with funds for Cavanaugh ongoing expenses.

A bank account at Wells Fargo titled "Cavanaugh Daughter's Benefit Fund" (Account Number: 8337799830) along with a GoFundMe account at www.GoFundMe.com/craigcavanaughmemorial.

The funds raised would help his daughters' future expenses including college, insurance and school athletics.

The family also thanked the Coconino County Sheriff's Office in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Farmington Police Department and other law enforcement agencies assisting in the search.

Cavanaugh’s truck was found in New Mexico on July 12. 

Anyone with information about the case can call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523.

Contact John R. Moses at 505-564-4624, or via email at jmoses@daily-times.com. Reporter Josh Kellogg also contributed to this article.

Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.

NOTE: This story was updated at 8:23 a.m. and again at 3:17 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2019. 

Correction:The bank account number for the Cavanaugh Daughter's Benefit Fund was off by one digit in the original article. That has been corrected.

Previously in this case:Police seek identities of fraud suspects who used missing man’s credit cards