FAULKNER COUNTY, Ark. The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that remains found late last year belong to a woman who was reported missing more than eight years ago.
Kelly Evans was reported missing by her family on Oct. 17, 2017, from her residence on White Oak Road in rural Faulkner County.
Authorities said an investigation was immediately launched, with search efforts including cadaver dogs, ground search teams, drones, ATVs, and assistance from Arkansas State Police aircraft. Law enforcement also sought public help, using social media campaigns and billboards in attempts to locate Evans.
The case remained active over the years and was assigned to a dedicated cold case investigator.
Investigators received a break in the case on Dec. 31, 2025, when a hunter tracking game near White Oak Road contacted law enforcement after discovering what appeared to be human remains in a heavily wooded area near a water runoff channel.
Deputies with the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office and the Faulkner County Coroner’s Office responded to the location and conducted an extensive search. During that search, officials recovered additional suspected human remains along with personal items.
The remains were transferred to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis. On Jan. 16, 2026, authorities confirmed the remains were positively identified as Kelly Evans, with a 98.98 percent match.
Officials said the cause of death has not yet been determined.
“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for or worked toward, we hope this identification provides the family with a measure of closure,” the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “This remains an ongoing and active investigation. As a result, no additional details will be publicly released at this time.”
