Missing man’s foot found

Yuma County Sheriff's deputies confirmed the foot of a man who went missing in June 2016 was recovered a month after the man disappeared.

John Burkett never made it to work on June 25, 2016. That's when the search began.

John Burkett was 56 years old at the time.

“I know somebody out there knows what happened on that day. They also know what happened to John," said Larry Gilley, his best friend.

Burkett's car was found on March 27, 2017, in the Gila Gravity Canal, but it wasn't confirmed until 2020 that his foot was found in the Wellton Mohawk Canal.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) said the two canals meet.

“The vehicle was found supposedly submerged for nine months. When they brought the vehicle out, the lights came on," said Gilley.

However, in 2017 YCSO told News 11the vehicle looked as if it was in the water for some time and no remains were found inside or near the vehicle.

With so many questions left unanswered, Gilley and his wife went searching for answers.

“We found footage on 3rd Street right past the River City Grill," explained Gilley. “From River City Grill to 4th Avenue we lost him completely.”

YCSO added Burkett's cause of death was listed as undetermined.

Gilley is convinced someone murdered his best friend.

“I believe John. John was so kind and he’d give you the shirt off his back. I think his kindness became his demise,” said Gilley.

Gilley wants someone to come forward with the truth.