dpUPDATE 6/28/26 at 7:40 p.m.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources released an update to their Facebook Page on Sunday evening announcing the discovery of missing 19-year-old Marly Kinney’s body.
“The body of a female recovered at 3:45 p.m. today from Grayson Lake in Carter County has been identified as Marly Kinney. The 19-year-old from Ashland, Kentucky, had been missing since Wednesday afternoon, June 24, 2026.
The family has been 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 Frankfort.
Game wardens with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources led an exhaustive search for Kinney following a missing person report that indicated a female passenger did not return 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 that included boats, Ashland Fire Department divers, sonar, Kentucky State Police helicopters, drones, UTVs/ATVs, and K9 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 Sherrif’s Office, Elliott County Emergency Management, the US 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 case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement at 800-25-ALERT (25378) or Kentucky State Police Post 14 at 606-928-6421.
Information and questions may also be directed to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at 800-858-1549, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) weekdays, excluding state holidays, or at [email protected].”
Original Story:
GRAYSON, KY (WSAZ) – A 19-year-old woman who was last seen on Wednesday near the Grayson Lake area has been found dead, according to Lt. Mulholland with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Multiple agencies discovered Ashland native Marly Kinney’s body in the Grayson Lake around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.
The discovery comes five days after her disappearance was initially reported.
The investigation remains open at this time.
For WSAZ’s previous coverage, click here.
Check the WSAZ app for updates.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
