Tragedy struck during a family trip when Zaynab Joseph, a 40-year-old Californian mother and teacher, fell to her death from a cliff on Bear Mountain near Sedona, Arizona.
The fatal incident happened on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office reports that Joseph was navigating a difficult trail when she fell around 140 feet.
Another group of hikers, alerted by shouts, halted their journey. While a few alerted emergency services, one hiker braved the steep slope and reached the critically injured Joseph, who was still alive but barely.
The sheriff’s office later reported, “Unfortunately, she died from her injuries soon thereafter.” The office also announced that the woman’s husband and one-year-old child were airlifted from the mountain, and her body was subsequently recovered.
The family had been vacationing in the area and were lodging at a local Airbnb in Sedona.
Recognized by the US Forest Service as a “strenuous hike,” Bear Mountain is known for its steep, unshaded terrain, and sections that require rock scrambling. The trail rises more than 1,800 feet in just 2.3 miles, underscoring the inherent risks of such endeavors.
Joseph was a part-time teacher at the Orange Crescent School in Garden Grove, California, according to her LinkedIn profile, and an alumna of the University of Toledo.
Farwa Zaidi, who identified herself as Joseph’s sister, shared a Facebook message on April 16, stating: “She had a heart of gold and was immensely loved by everyone. Words cannot capture the agony our families are enduring.”
Zaidi shared another tribute to Joseph on Facebook the following day: “My Zaynab Joseph, I will carry your memory for a lifetime! I’ve lost my sister, my friend, my mentor, the ‘mommi’ to my children, and my confidante. You will forever reside in my heart, always! I love you immensely.” She also mentioned a quote by Rumi shared by Joseph on her Facebook page in November 2021: “On the day I die, when I’m being carried toward the grave, don’t weep.”
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, interviewing witnesses and requesting any additional information from those in the area at the time of the fall.
