Missing Peoria hiker found safe after nearly a week

March 14, 2025 WOL

Luke Wuennenberg, 20, was missing since Saturday afternoon. He was found days later after knocking on a door in a neighborhood, police say.

PEORIA, Ariz. — A missing hiker out of Peoria was found safe nearly a week after he was reported missing.

Luke Wuennenberg was located after knocking on a door in the neighborhood and contacting a resident. Police said Wuennenberg told the resident he was “tired and cold,” and is now safe and in good condition.

“We appreciate the support of the community during the search and thank everyone who helped,” Peoria police said in a statement.

Wuennenberg, who his family describes as an experienced hiker, was seen exiting his car at the end of north 137th Lane in Peoria around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Peoria Police said they utilized the following resources in the search:

Phoenix Firebird for aerial search assistance
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (mounted unit)
Arizona Department of Corrections bloodhounds
Officers conducting extensive ground searches

Volunteers also searched for hours on Sunday and Monday, as well as another search party on Wednesday after police-led searching was no longer in effect.

Police did not say what happened to Wuennenberg or why he went missing.

>> This story will be updated as additional information becomes available. Stay with 12News for the latest.

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