Fritz Miller, grandfather of Amber Hess, holds photos of her that he'd shown to reporters. Hess,17, is considered a missing person, although police found a burned body they have not identified.

Tim Hacker / East Valley Tribune

More Photos (1):

Related articles:

Body of missing woman found at crash site Body found; apparently is missing woman's 3 arrested after body found in mine shaft

Other articles by Christian Richardson:

Queen Creek decides against using Rural/Metro staffers Canyon tour bus inspections find 355 violations in 3 days Pinal County OKs 5 new dispatchers for Sheriff's Office 2 charged with murder, abuse in teen's death during drug party Cop lets police K-9 die in hot vehicle Couple found dead in Salt River Canyon likely murder-suicide Pursued van disgorges illegal entrants Queen Creek girl died of stab to heart Housing boom strains Pinal authorities Pinal official quits under sex-harassment fire

Health Care
BENSON HOSPITAL
RESPIRATORY THERAPIST Sales and Marketing
Ever-Ready Glass
Glass Sales Health Care
RLM Services, Inc.
Orthopedic Assistant-CMA

Within a matter of hours, an investigation into a Pinal County girl's abduction has expanded to include a murder.

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office has ordered an autopsy on a burned body discovered Monday in the desert to determine whether investigators have found 17-year-old Amber LeAnn Hess, who was last heard from Friday.

The body was found in an area off of Hunt Highway, about five miles northwest of Florence. Investigators found evidence at the site that connects the case to the other crime scene — the home where Amber lives with her parents, said Jerald Monahan, Pinal County chief sheriff's deputy.

Authorities declined to say what that evidence included.

However, Monahan said Amber is still listed as a missing person until tests confirm otherwise.

On Sunday night after a weekend out of town, Amber's parents, Mike and Candy Hess, returned home to a disturbing scene. There was blood in the kitchen, and their daughter, her car and a handgun were missing, the Sheriff's Office said.

The single-story house sits on a dirt lot in an unincorporated area about four miles south of Queen Creek near the Hunt Highway and Thompson Road.

On Monday morning, sheriff's deputies called the case an abduction and said they suspected foul play. Monahan said the crime does not appear to be a random act of violence, and Amber probably knew her abductor or abductors.

The case has left authorities and Amber's family with many questions. It isn't clear what happened to the teen.

"All we know is Amber is missing and we want her back," her father said earlier in the day.