Kayla Kelley case: Medical examiner IDs body found in Grand Prairie as missing Collin County woman
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The search for a Collin County woman who went missing a week ago has come to a tragic end.
Authorities have confirmed that the woman’s body that was found in Grand Prairie is Kayla Kelley.
Investigators discovered the body in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Grand Prairie Wednesday afternoon, near Kingswood Boulevard and Prairie Oak Boulevard.
Sharon Brown visited the site Thursday afternoon.
She brought flowers and two balloons, one of which she said she sent to Kelley.
"From one sister to another sister, I wanted to know that she was not alone, that we are going to remember her, and we’re sending up flowers to heaven in her name," she explained.
As of Thursday evening, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner had the cause of Kelley’s death listed as pending.
Authorities haven't said what led them to the Grand Prairie neighborhood, but the 33-year-old woman’s body was found less than a mile away from Ocastor Ferguson’s house.
Ferguson is already in the Collin County jail on charges of kidnapping and arson, though he could face more charges. His bond is currently set at $1 million.
"We’re not at the point charging decisions will be made. There’s additional information that needs to be done by investigators and the Texas Rangers. They’ll continue to work together on this homicide investigation," Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner said.
Kelley was first reported missing by her friends on Jan. 11.
The positive identification of Kelley’s body brings to an end the more than week-long search for Kelley.
Court documents said Kelley and Ferguson were in a relationship, and she had just recently discovered he was married and gave her a fake name. She had reportedly threatened to tell his wife about the affair.
Investigators found Kelley's burned-out car on a county road in Frisco with no evidence of Kelley. That's where the arson charge comes from for Ferguson.
They said they have evidence that Ferguson was the last person with her.
"Let me say this, this is truly a tragedy. We had hoped for a different outcome. Like her family, we were devastated when it ended up when we found her body," Skinner said.
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Man accused of kidnapping missing Collin County woman allegedly used fake name, lied about being married
Ocastor Ferguson and Kelley were in a relationship, according to an affidavit. But investigators say he told her his name was Kevin. They say Kelley recently found out he lied about his name and was married. Upset, she told her friends she was going to blackmail him.
While law enforcement is reluctant to share many other details of the case, they said they are far from done with the investigation.
"While we desperately hoped for a different outcome, I'm grateful for the dogged determination of my deputies and our Texas Rangers in locating Ms. Kelley," Skinner said. "Make no mistake, you murder a 33-year-old lady and put her in a shallow grave, we’re going to seek justice."
The sheriff’s office has indicated we might learn more through additional court documents, and some of those might come out if additional charges are filed.