Are 5 brutal murders in Maricopa county connected?
Reported by: ABC15.com staff
Last Update: 12:43 pm


Five men have been found dead in western Maricopa county over the last four weeks.

Investigators are now trying to find out if those deaths are linked to immigrant or drug trafficking.

The most recent bodies were discovered last week in the back of a burned-out car near 211th Avenue and Beloat Road in Buckeye.

In the remaining three cases, each of the victims was found dumped in the desert.

"I have been saying all along, even though others say no, that this illegal activity breeds violence," said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The five deaths appear to be similar to nine murders that happened back in 2003, where all of the bodies were dumped in remote areas of the county.

Investigators had believed the eight victims may have been kidnapped for ransom or could have been migrant smugglers.

No arrests were ever made in any of those murders.

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