7 years later, search for Kelly Evansc continues
FAULKNER COUNTY— Monday marked the seventh anniversary of the disappearance of Kelly Evans, a 54year-old Faulkner County woman who was last seen near White Oak Road in Enola on Oct. 14, 2017.
Evans was last seen wearing a white tank top and white athletic shorts, the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) said. During the week of Oct. 22, 2017, the FCSO received a tip reporting that Evans may have been walking on Highway 225 East towards Greenbrier wearing blue jeans and a hat, carrying a black and white zebra stripe purse.
Since her disappearance in 2017, investigators have interviewed multiple individuals and investigated numerous possible leads. Several searches have taken place of the rural area as well. These include the following: On Oct. 17, 2017, a thorough ground search of the property and roads in the area near the residence was conducted. A second ground search of the property took place on Oct.
18, 2017. On Oct. 19, 2017, a third aerial search of the area was conducted utilizing the Arkansas State Police Helicopter. A fourth ground search was conducted on Oct. 23, 2017, utilizing four-wheelers and other equipment. A fifth ground search was conducted of the property on Oct. 24, 2017.
On Oct. 26, 2017, an expansive sixth joint agency search was conducted by the FCSO,
See STATE, page A3
EVANS STATE
From page A2
Faulkner County Emergency Squad, Enola Fire Department, Centerville Fire Department, Faulkner County Office of Emergency Management and Vilonia Fire Department.
This expansive search included more than 60 people, took place over the course of a full day and included the property and extended areas.
On March 20, 2020, a seventh search of the area was conducted by the FCSO and Arkansas State Police. This search included drone technology and cadaver dogs.
Despite the ongoing efforts of numerous agencies, the disappearance of Kelly Evans remains unsolved to date.
On Monday, the FCSO said the “case remains a priority for us.” The Morgan Nick Foundation has also publicized the case and assisted with billboards, flyers and other information in hopes of finding Evans.
“In an effort to provide the family of Ms. Evans long awaited closure, we are publicizing this information again in hopes that someone will come forward with additional information,” the FCSO said.
“No information is too small.
You could possibly hold the key to finding Ms. Evans. If you have any information about this case, please contact Lt. Woodward or Investigator Howington at the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division [at] 501-450-4917.”
Anonymous tips can be submitted at www.fcso.ar.gov/crime-tips.
***
Pursuit on Hwy 49 leads to arrest and drug seizure
In the early hours of Monday, Sept. 30, a police pursuit involving the Brookland Police Department ended in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of illegal substances.
Around midnight, Arkansas State Police Dispatch alerted officers of a pursuit in progress near Brookland, heading northbound on U.S.
Highway 49. Corporal Jarrod Lyerly, stationed nearby at the intersection of U.S. 412 and U.S. 49 in Paragould, immediately responded to the call.
Cpl. Lyerly quickly positioned himself on U.S. Highway 49, heading southbound to intercept the pursuit. As he approached State Highway 69, he spotted the suspect vehicle, an orange Dodge Charger, followed closely by two marked police units with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The chase had already spanned more than six miles.
To deter the suspect, Lyerly performed a U-turn ahead of the oncoming vehicles, hoping to prompt the driver to surrender. Despite flashing their hazard lights, the suspect vehicle failed to stop. Lyerly took primary control of the pursuit, moving alongside the Charger and executing a controlled maneuver that caused the suspect vehicle to lose control, spinning off the road and coming to a stop on the east side of the highway.
The officers behind the chase quickly engaged the driver and passenger. As Cpl. Lyerly approached the scene, the driver was found outside the vehicle, speaking on a phone, and was subsequently handcuffed by Greene County Deputy Miller. The passenger remained inside the car with his hands raised.
Following the arrest, authorities discovered that multiple items had been thrown from the suspect vehicle during the pursuit. These items were recovered, including a bag containing methamphetamine, cocaine, synthetic marijuana (spice), and drug paraphernalia.
