The extensive hunt for a Kentucky grandmother who had vanished came to a heartbreaking conclusion after officials located her body at what seemed to be an encampment for the homeless in the vicinity of Covington.
Carol Groves, 65, was discovered deceased on March 28, 2026 in a forested section in the 800 block of Crescent Avenue, situated east of Devou Park, according to the Covington Police Department. Law enforcement arrived approximately 7 p.m. following reports of a deceased individual and found severely decomposed human remains, subsequently confirmed to be the woman who had disappeared since the end of December.
The body of Groves was located inside a tire at what looked to be a camp for homeless individuals, her son Tyler Carroll stated. The bleak site was in close proximity to the 12th Street bridge, a location where Carroll indicated his mother frequently resided. Authorities informed the relatives that she had been deceased for a considerable period prior to the discovery.
This finding delivers heartbreaking answers to relatives who had spent the cold season wishing for the safe recovery of their family member. The initial missing persons report for Groves was filed on December 20, 2025, following her failure to communicate with her children—an unusual departure from her normal behavior.
During the original missing persons alert, authorities characterized Groves as standing 5 feet, 4 inches in height with a weight of roughly 120 pounds. Her most recent sighting showed her dressed in pajama pants and pink Crocs, covered with a blanket, near John Street in Covington.
Carroll informed Fox affiliate WXIX-TV that his mother voluntarily lived without housing and battled substance abuse. Though she would routinely disappear for multiple days, she consistently stayed in touch with her children—until December.
When days became weeks with no communication from Groves, relatives grew increasingly worried. The missing person report was filed shortly before Christmas, initiating a hunt that continued through the harshest winter months in Northern Kentucky. The 65-year-old grandmother faced brutal cold while surviving outdoors, intensifying the urgency of the search as weeks went by.
Even with the tragic result, Carroll shared a sense of closure in finally learning what happened to his mother following months of painful unknowns. He informed WXIX he realized after five months that the outcome would not be positive, but receiving confirmation enables the family to start the mourning process.
Initial autopsy results issued on March 30 by the Covington Police Department indicate the death appears not to involve suspicious circumstances. Captain Justin Bradbury stated that although the probe continues, criminal activity is not presently believed to be involved. The medical examiner will establish the official cause of death and issue it when the complete report is finished.
Relatives recall Groves as an individual who chose her own path in life even while confronting substantial hardships. Brad Carroll, her former spouse, shared with NBC affiliate WLWT-TV that she should be remembered as generous, warm and full of life. He described her as a skilled dancer who captured everyone’s attention whenever she took to the dance floor.
Family and friends conducted a remembrance ceremony for Groves following her discovery, celebrating the life of a grandmother whose addiction challenges could not diminish her family’s devotion to her. A GoFundMe campaign has been established by the family to help cover burial costs as they make arrangements for her final farewell.
The Evidence Collection Unit of the Covington Police Department remains actively examining the details of Groves’ death. Investigators are requesting that anyone possessing knowledge about Groves’ whereabouts from late December through late March reach out to authorities at 859-292-2234 or Cincinnati/NKY Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
This incident highlights the risks encountered by at-risk individuals struggling with substance dependency and lack of stable housing, especially in severe winter conditions. Though Groves elected to live on the streets, relatives stressed that she was cherished and kept strong connections with her children for the majority of her life.
For Tyler Carroll along with other surviving relatives of Groves, the verification of her passing—though tragic—marks the conclusion of the excruciating questions that characterized recent months. The family can now turn their attention to celebrating her life and conducting final farewells.
