Family members identify local woman who died hiking in Arizona

WINTHROP, Mass. — Family and friends are identifying a local woman who died during a hike on Camelback Mountain in Arizona.

Loved ones say 31-year-old Angela Tramonte, originally of Saugus, was visiting a man she had met on Instagram.

Her best friends from high school said they have many questions about what happened.

Her friends told Boston 25 that they didn’t think it was the best idea for her to be flying across the country to spend time with a guy she had only been talking with for a few months on Instagram.

But they never imagined she wouldn’t be coming home.

Loved ones told us Tramonte was born and raised in Saugus and had most recently been living in Winthrop.

Investigators say Tramonte and the man she was out visiting were hiking up Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, when she decided to turn back halfway up the mountain because of the scorching heat.

The high temperature in Phoenix that day was about 104 degrees.

Authorities said the man who was hiking with Tramonte didn’t turn around with her and instead continued up the mountain.

He told investigators when he returned to the car, he couldn’t find her, so he called 911.

Emergency workers located her body nearly four hours later.

”We didn’t think it was a good idea for her to go out there but we never in a million years thought this could happen,” said friend Melissa Buttaro.

“He allowed her to walk down that mountain knowing she’s never hiked before, but he still allowed her, him knowing the conditions and the heat and what that would do to a person but you still allowed her to walk down that mountain alone,” said friend Sarina Viola.

Authorities in Arizona said the investigation isn’t complete, but they believe Tramonte was dehydrated due to the extreme temperatures.

The cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Medical Examiner but police said foul play isn’t suspected.

Tramonte’s friends as well as her family are still consumed with questions about what happened, and they’re hoping to find out more answers in the days ahead.

A GoFundMe Page has been set up to help with funeral expenses.

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