Detectives say they have persons of interest in JoAnn Dudek's murder

NEW RIVER, AZ (AZAfamily) — Arizona Family has learned new details in the murder case of a missing Anthem woman whose remains were found in the middle of the desert several weeks ago.

JoAnn Dudek went missing just before Thanksgiving in 2022 and skull found in New River on November 6According to authorities.

Detectives confirmed they have persons of interest in Dudek’s case and shared some new clues to his whereabouts.

“This is an extraordinary development for our family,” said Dudek’s niece, Erin Murtha.

Murtha said he finally felt like things were starting to move forward, but Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office does not name persons of interest.

“It’s been a long two years of navigating this path, waiting and having a lot of patience for the investigation process,” Murtha said.

MCSO also discovered Dudek’s skull and remains were found off Interstate 17 south of New River Road.

Dudek lived in Anthem, and Murtha said he and his family flew to Arizona several times to search, which proved impossible.

They now know their search is just south of where he was found.

“You think you know how big a desert is, but you don’t really understand how big it feels until you walk 100 feet, stepping over every rock, not even sure what it is,” he said. .

Dudek is gone Disappeared from his home in Anthem in November 2022 while planning a Christmas trip with his family.

She lived with her husband, her adopted daughter, and her daughter’s boyfriend.

Dudek’s husband died a few months after her disappearance due to brain damage.

Earlier this month, Murtha told us their extended family was cut off He contacted Dudek’s daughter and her boyfriend after being told there had been some sort of argument at the home the night Dudek disappeared.

True Crime Arizona reporter Briana Whitney tried to call Dudek’s daughter to get her side of the story after her mother’s remains were found this week, and she answered, but as soon as Whitney identified herself, Dudek’s daughter hung up.

Murtha said going into Thanksgiving last year there was a feeling of despair.

“There was a time in our family where there was a feeling that we would never find him,” Murtha recalled.

This year I finally feel like there is a light at the end of this and hope to bring Dudek home for Christmas.

“We’re hoping to be able to bring his remains back to New York and bury him with his family, and I know they really want something to be able to at least do that for my family at Christmas,” Murtha said. “It’s very encouraging for us to hear that MCSO has people specifically interested in this case, and we’re very, very hopeful that that means they’re close to a solution.”

Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office The cause and manner of Dudek’s death are not yet known.

MCSO said there is no specific timeline for arrests and charges.

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