GRAYSON, Ky. — A 19-year-old woman who was last seen Wednesday near the Grayson Lake area has been found dead following a multi-day search, according to officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Authorities confirmed that Marly Kinney, 19, of Ashland, Kentucky, was discovered by multiple agencies in the Grayson area at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, five days after she was first reported missing.
Officials said Kinney was last seen on Wednesday, June 24, at Grayson Lake, which spans Carter and Elliott counties. Her disappearance prompted a large-scale search effort involving Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Kentucky State Police, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state park rangers, and multiple local fire and sheriff’s departments.
Search operations were heavily focused on the water and included aerial support, drones, boats, and K9 units as crews worked around the clock to locate her.
In a separate development during the investigation, authorities arrested a 23-year-old man, Cameron Conley, on charges of operating a boat while intoxicated. Officials said he told marina staff he could not locate a woman who had been on his boat. He was later taken into custody after allegedly showing signs of impairment, with reports indicating a breath test showed a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08% for boating in Kentucky. Conley has since been charged and is scheduled to appear in court.
Despite extensive search efforts, Kinney was ultimately located deceased in the Grayson area. Officials have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of her death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Kinney family expressed gratitude to law enforcement, first responders, and volunteers who assisted in the search, thanking the community for its overwhelming support during the difficult days.
Authorities continue to investigate all aspects of the case as they work to determine the events leading up to the tragedy.
