Authorities have identified the body of a 65-year-old woman missing since December as Carol Graves, ending a grim five-month search in Northern Kentucky. The Covington Police Department recovered Graves’ remains Monday afternoon in a wooded area near the 800 block of Crescent Avenue.
Graves originally vanished on Dec. 20, 2025. At the time of her disappearance, she was last seen wearing pajama pants and pink Crocs, wrapped in a blanket. Following a report of a badly decomposed body discovered in the woods, forensic investigators confirmed the identity through the state medical examiner’s office.
While the discovery concludes the active missing person case, the Covington Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. A preliminary autopsy report indicates that Graves did not die under suspicious circumstances, suggesting that foul play is not currently suspected.
Family members describe Graves as a woman who lived on her own terms despite personal hardships. Her son, Tyler Carroll, told local media that his mother struggled with addiction and was homeless by choice. He noted that while she often wandered off for short periods, she always maintained contact with her children—until December.
“I knew that this was what it was going to be,” Carroll told WXIX-TV, expressing a somber sense of closure. “I didn’t know it was going to be as horrible as it sounds, but I will be able to maybe sleep tonight.”
Despite the challenges of her later years, those close to Graves remember her as a vibrant presence. Her ex-husband, Brad Carroll, told WLWT-TV that she should be remembered as “generous, warm and full of life,” fondly recalling her as a talented dancer who could “clean up the dance floor.”
The Covington Police Department has not yet released a final cause of death, pending full toxicology and autopsy results. Detectives are urging anyone with additional information regarding Graves’ movements between late December and late March to contact local authorities.
Graves’ recovery highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the region’s vulnerable populations, particularly those battling addiction and housing instability during the winter months. For now, her family is preparing to lay the “generous and warm” grandmother to rest.
