Anthem woman’s remains discovered 2 years after her disappearance

ANTHEM, AZ (AZFamily) — Human remains of an Arizona woman who vanished nearly two years ago have been found, authorities and family members confirmed to Arizona’s Family.

Investigators tell Arizona’s Family that a skull was found in New River—not far from Anthem—last Wednesday. On Tuesday morning, she was positively identified as belonging to JoAnn Dudek.

Arizona’s Family first brought you new details about the unsolved case of Dudek on Monday. This new development now comes on the week of the second anniversary of her disappearance.

Less than 24 hours after our report Monday night, the intuition of Dudek’s niece was not only correct— it was imminent.

“We woke up to the news that her remains have been located and identified,” said Erin Murtha, Dudek’s niece.

Murtha has fought tirelessly for answers in her aunt’s case for two years. On Nov. 13, 2022, Dudek disappeared from her Anthem home.

The case quickly became a homicide investigation within the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, but with no concrete evidence inside the home and no trace of Dudek, developments grew cold.

“You and I spoke last night about how difficult no-body homicide cases are to solve and, half of my heart is heartbroken and the other half of my heart is happy to say this is no longer a no-body homicide,” Murtha told True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney.

Details are still limited regarding how the remains were found and where that scene was.

“We do not know exactly where they were found and we don’t know exactly by who,” said Murtha.

Murtha said their extended family believes Dudek died inside her home on Nov. 13 during a violent altercation.

Her family shared Dudek’s last text message to her sister, which was at 6:23 p.m. that night.

The final message ended with a heart emoji and “Love, Jo” as they were planning a holiday trip to New York City.

The next messages show her family expressing worry and concern when she abruptly stopped responding; they now feel certain she died later that night.

“My hope of sharing these text messages is to show that whatever happened to JoAnn did not happen on her own volition. It was done to her,” Murtha said.

Three people lived at the house besides Dudek, and JoAnn’s husband died months after her disappearance from a seizure and brain damage.

The only other two living there at the time were JoAnn’s adoptive daughter and her boyfriend.

Murtha said the rest of their family has cut off communication with them.

“We are very hopeful that now with the location of these remains, that what happened that night and who did this to her will come to light,” Murtha said. “It is insane that the day before we are getting ready to mourn the second anniversary without answers, that was our big thing second anniversary without answers, is that the day before the biggest answer has been revealed.”

Murtha said they still don’t know the cause of death, and that’s something they hope to learn in the coming days and weeks.

She said they will now bring Dudek home and lay her to rest next to her parents, but they’re committed to getting justice for her.

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