A 75-year-old Maricopa man died from heat exposure last month, marking the city’s first heat-related death this summer as cases climb across Pinal County.

The Pinal County Medical Examiner said Garry Folta died June 20 after air conditioning in his manufactured home failed to cool it properly, according to PCMEO Division Manager André Davis. Heart disease and diabetes also contributed to his death.

“Although the ambient temperature inside the home at the time of the scene investigation was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, local temperatures reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the preceding days,” Davis told InMaricopa.

Folta’s death was one of 11 documented in Pinal County through June 20, two more compared to the same time frame last year.

Despite assumptions, most heat deaths in Pinal County don’t happen outside. According to PCMEO’s 2025 annual report, 63% of heat-related deaths occurred indoors.

“Of the 19 deaths that occurred indoors, the medical examiner investigator’s scene investigation revealed that climate control systems were either non-functional or inadequate in 11 of [the] cases,” the report read. “Climate control systems were found to be functional but set to ‘off’ (despite the high ambient outdoor temperature) in 8 cases.”

More than just heat

The first heat death this year occurred April 2, when a 70-year-old homeless veteran in Casa Grande died from heat exposure and dehydration, with heart disease acting as a contributing factor.

As in previous years, most victims were older adults with underlying health conditions. All decedents this year were 59 or older, with an average age of 73.

Nearly all had some form of heart disease and a co-occurring condition, such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, obesity or a history of alcohol use.

PCMEO has previously noted chronic health conditions can make a person more susceptible to heat.

“High daytime and nighttime temperatures can cause stress on the human body, which exacerbates health conditions … Some medical conditions, such as obesity and heart disease, increase people’s sensitivity to heat, putting them at greater risk of heat illnesses,” read a 2024 annual report.

Summer’s deadly stretch

On an annual basis, most heat-deaths peak in June and July — the summer’s hottest months — and this year was no exception. Nearly two in three Pinal County heat deaths occurred in the one-week period between June 14 through June 20.

Afternoon highs during that period ranged 105 to 111 degrees, according to data from the University of Arizona’s Arizona Meteorological Network.

Davis said despite heat warnings and education surrounding heat dangers, he anticipates seeing the numbers rise as summer progresses.

“Unfortunately, I anticipate these numbers may continue to rise as temperatures increase throughout the summer,” he said.