Phoenix police open homicide case after woman’s body is found wrapped along Broadway Road overnight

Investigation underway after late-night discovery in west Phoenix

Phoenix police have opened a homicide investigation after a woman’s body was found along a west Phoenix roadway late Friday night. Officers were sent to Broadway Road east of 59th Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. after a report of what appeared to be a body on the side of the road.

When officers arrived, they found an object wrapped in a large amount of material. Police said the initial condition made it difficult to immediately confirm what the object was. Investigators secured the area and conducted an extended search of the scene. After several hours, authorities confirmed the object was a body, and the Maricopa County medical examiner took custody.

Victim identified; death treated as a homicide

Police said the victim was identified on Sunday as 24-year-old Jioenise Summerfield. Investigators stated they believe her death was a homicide. No suspect information was released, and police have not provided details on the cause of death or how long the body may have been at the location before it was discovered.

The department has not announced any arrests connected to the case. Detectives have asked anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area around the time of the report to come forward, including motorists who may have been traveling on Broadway Road late Friday night.

What investigators typically seek in roadway homicide cases

In incidents where a body is discovered along a roadway, investigators often work to establish three key timelines: when the victim was last known to be alive, when the death likely occurred, and when the body was placed at the discovery location. The recovery of the body by the medical examiner generally initiates forensic steps that can include confirming identity, documenting injuries, and determining cause and manner of death.

• Scene processing to collect trace evidence and document the placement of the body and surrounding items
• Neighborhood canvassing and requests for surveillance or doorbell-camera footage
• Review of nearby traffic patterns and potential witness vehicles present around the reporting time
• Follow-up interviews with people who may have had recent contact with the victim

Police have requested tips from the public, including anonymous information submitted through Silent Witness.

Case status

As of Monday, February 9, 2026, the investigation remains active. Police have not released information indicating a motive, the circumstances leading to Summerfield’s death, or whether the location where she was found is believed to be the site of the killing or a dumping location.

Authorities are continuing to seek information that could help identify who was responsible and reconstruct the events leading up to the discovery.