An Alabama woman, Loretta Kay Carr, 45, has been arrested and charged with capital murder and the kidnapping of Mary Elizabeth Isbell, whose case has remained unsolved for almost two years. Carr’s daughter, Jessie Kelly, 21 has also been arrested and awaiting extradition from Pennsylvania.
Carr was taken into custody on June 25, in relation to the disappearance and subsequent death of Isbell, when new information was given to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s office. Isbell’s body was found Wednesday in Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne, AL., a few days after Carr and Kelly were detained.
Court records show that Carr is suspected of kidnapping Isbell in October 2021. At that time, Isbell, 37, was last seen driving a dark-colored Jeep. Her disappearance was reported in January 2022. Law enforcement’s recent findings suggest that Carr caused Isbell’s death intentionally by pushing her off a cliff.
Carr is currently being held without the possibility of bail at the DeKalb County Jail. In light of the capital murder charge, she has requested a preliminary hearing, claiming the evidence against her is inadequate. Authorities have not yet disclosed any details about a possible motive behind the alleged crime or the nature of the relationship between Carr and Isbell.
The investigation into the case is still underway, with efforts being directed towards uncovering a possible motive.
