At a Glance
- Kelly Evans, 54, vanished from her White Oak Road home on October 16, 2017
- A hunter found suspected human remains in dense woods on December 31, 2024
- Crime lab confirmed a 99.98 % match to Evans on January 16, 2025
- Why it matters: The identification ends an eight-year family search but leaves the cause of death undetermined
Kelly Evans disappeared without a trace from her rural Faulkner County, Arkansas, home in the fall of 2017. More than 2,900 days later, a chance discovery by a hunter has finally answered the question her family dreaded most: where had she gone?
The Disappearance
Evans was 54 years old when her family reported her missing on October 16, 2017. She lived on White Oak Road, a winding county route that cuts through thick forest and pastureland northeast of Conway.
The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office launched an immediate search. Teams deployed:
- Cadaver dogs
- Drones
- ATVs
- Arkansas State Police aircraft
Despite the resources, the initial operation found nothing. Investigators kept the case active, turning to social-media campaigns and roadside billboards in the hope that someone, somewhere, had seen Evans.
The Discovery
On December 31, 2024, a hunter tracking game near the same stretch of White Oak Road spotted what looked like human bones in a densely wooded gully near a water-runoff channel. He alerted the sheriff’s office, setting off a new chain of events.
Deputies and the county coroner returned to the site and combed the area. They recovered:
- Additional suspected human remains
- Clothing
- Personal belongings
Everything was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis.
The Identification
On January 16, 2025, forensic scientists delivered the news: the remains were a “99.98 % match” with Kelly Evans. The sheriff’s office released the confirmation in a public statement four days later, on January 20.
The identification closed the geographic gap but opened new questions. Investigators have not yet determined how Evans died. They have also revealed no signs of foul play, though they emphasize the inquiry is still active.
Family’s Long Wait
In 2024, Evans’ daughter, Nikki Driscoll, told Little Rock ABC affiliate KATV that arguing and temporary silence between them was normal. “It wasn’t unlike her for us to get into an argument or for her to get upset and for her to be left alone for a few days,” Driscoll said. “I never thought that I would be sitting here seven years later still looking for her.”
Driscoll’s wait stretched to eight years before the hunter’s discovery brought partial closure.
Investigation Continues
The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office says the case remains open. Detectives are not releasing further details while they continue to work leads. In their statement, authorities acknowledged the limits of the outcome.
“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 release said.
The department added: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of Kelly Evans at this time.”
Key Takeaways
- Kelly Evans vanished from her White Oak Road home on October 16, 2017
- A hunter found remains on December 31, 2024, less than a mile away
- DNA analysis confirmed the identity on January 16, 2025
- Cause of death is still unknown; the investigation remains active
