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Autopsy Confirms Crandell's Cause of Death

Chester Crandell
(Photo courtesy of Arizona State Legislature)
Chester Crandell

An autopsy has confirmed state Senator Chester Crandell died from injuries he suffered when he was thrown from a horse.

A Navajo County sheriff's official says the autopsy ruled out any medical issues that may have caused him to fall, like a heart attack.

The 68-year-old Crandell was found dead on a ranch near his home in Heber on Monday. Family members went looking for him when he didn’t return from a ride on a young colt he was training.

Crandell served in the state House of Representatives for two years, starting in 2011, before he was elected to the senate the following year.

He’s survived by his wife, Alice, nine children and 36 grandchildren. Services for Crandell have been set for Saturday morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Heber. There will also be a viewing beforehand. 

Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.