UPDATE 06.28.26 at 19:40
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources posted an update to its Facebook page Sunday evening announcing the discovery of the missing body of 19-year-old Marley Kinney.
“The body of a woman discovered at 3:45 pm today at Lake Grayson in Carter County has been identified as Marlee Kinney. A 19-year-old from Ashland, Kentucky, reported missing Wednesday afternoon, June 24, 2026.
The family was notified and the Carter County Coroner was notified and responded to the scene. The cause of death will be determined by the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfurt.
Hunters with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conducted an extensive search for Kinney after a missing person report indicated the female passenger had not returned with a group of friends on a rented pontoon boat at Grayson Lake Marina.
Search efforts focused on the water and shoreline with assistance from multiple county and state law enforcement agencies, first responders and volunteers, including boats, Ashland Fire Department divers, sonar, Kentucky State Police helicopters, drones, UTVs/ATVs, and K9s and cadaver dogs.
Agencies assisting Kentucky Fish and Wildlife in the search included Kentucky State Police, Ashland Fire Department, Grayson Fire Department, Carter County Emergency Management, Boyd County Emergency Management, Elliott County Sheriff’s Office, Elliott County Emergency Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kentucky State Parks Rangers, Lexington Fire Department, Sandy Hook Fire Department, England Hill Fire Department and more than 50 local volunteers.
This matter remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Division at 800-25-ALERT (25378) or Kentucky State Trooper Post 14 at 606-928-6421.
Information and questions can also be directed to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at 800-858-1549, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET) weekdays excluding state holidays, or info.center@ky.gov.”
Original story:
GRAYSON, Ky. (WSAZ) – A 19-year-old woman who was last seen Wednesday near the Lake Grayson area has been found dead, according to Lt. Mulholland with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Multiple agencies discovered the body of Ashland native Marlee Kinney in Grayson Lake around 3:45 p.m. Sunday.
The discovery came five days after she was initially reported missing.
The investigation remains open at this time.
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