The body of Kayla Wright, a 29-year-old woman from Derby, Vermont, was discovered last week in a large container in a remote area of northern Vermont, just a few days after she was reported missing.
Following the grim find, three individuals were apprehended in relation to her death.
The Vermont State Police disclosed that Wright’s body was located on February 6, 2024, in the peaceful town of Troy, Vermont. She had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and her body was dumped in a container on a sandbar in the Missisquoi River. The location of the container was in the picturesque Big Falls area of Missisquoi State Park, near the southern border of Quebec. Wright had last been seen on February 2.
Due to Wright’s close relationship with her family and her regular contact with them, her sudden absence was swiftly noted, leading the Vermont State Police to launch an immediate investigation. The federal authorities also joined the ongoing inquiry.
Federal documents indicate that three individuals implicated in a drug distribution operation were also connected to Wright’s disappearance. A probable cause affidavit suggested that Wright had been in contact with at least one of these individuals, involved in the drug conspiracy, on the day she went missing. The affidavit stated that Wright had been associating with these individuals and had been involved in narcotics for a period of time.
The three individuals were identified as Jakiy Tramaine Corey Keith, Bryanna Rooney, and Thomas Rooney.
Wright’s phone was discovered at the Rooneys’ residence on February 3, after an emergency signal was activated. Keith, also referred to as “AB” or “Anthony Borrow,” allegedly used Facebook to inform a family member about Wright’s death.
Details in the documents indicate a harrowing narrative by Keith. He alleges that he confronted people at the house, armed with guns, demanding to know Wright’s location. He was informed that Wright had been shot three times over a counterfeit money dispute and her body was concealed in a toolbox. The detention memos for the Rooneys and Keith suggest they may have additional information about the case that they are withholding.
Sara Davis, a close friend of Wright’s from Montana, remembered Wright as a person who stayed connected with her family, regardless of the distance between them. They often conversed via Facetime. Davis and Wright developed their friendship in Big Sky, Montana, a location popular for its ski slopes and hiking trails. Although Wright was not particularly inclined towards outdoor activities, she was able to form numerous friendships during her four-year stay in Montana before moving back to Vermont.
In the midst of these developments, Sara Davis emphasizes the need to remember her friend for who she was: a vibrant individual cherished by many, rather than focusing solely on the circumstances of her tragic death.
