The extended search for a Kentucky grandmother who went missing concluded tragically after law enforcement located her body at what seemed to be an encampment for homeless individuals close to Covington.
Carol Groves, 65, was discovered deceased on March 28, 2026 in a forested section within 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 human remains and found severely decomposed body parts, subsequently confirmed to be the individual who had vanished since the end of December.
The remains of Groves were located inside a tire at what seemed to be a homeless encampment, her son, Tyler Carroll, reported. The somber site was situated near the 12th Street bridge, a location where Carroll indicated his mother frequently resided. Authorities informed the family she had been deceased for a considerable period prior to the discovery.
The finding delivers heartbreaking resolution to relatives who had spent winter hoping for the safe recovery of their family member. Authorities first documented Groves as missing on December 20, 2025, following her failure to communicate with her children—an unusual departure from her typical behavior.
At the time police originally reported Groves as missing, they characterized her as standing 5 feet, 4 inches in height and weighing around 120 pounds. Her last known appearance showed her dressed in pajama pants and pink Crocs, covered in a blanket, within the John Street vicinity in Covington.
Carroll shared with Fox affiliate WXIX-TV that his mother had voluntarily chosen homelessness and battled substance abuse issues. Though she would frequently disappear for multiple days, she consistently stayed in touch with her children—until December.
When days became weeks with no communication from Groves, the family’s worry intensified. They filed a missing person report shortly before Christmas, initiating a search that would continue through the harshest winter months in Northern Kentucky. The 65-year-old grandmother faced brutal cold conditions while surviving outdoors, rendering the search progressively critical as weeks elapsed.
Notwithstanding the tragic conclusion, Carroll conveyed a sense of relief at finally learning his mother’s whereabouts following months of tormenting doubt. He shared with WXIX he understood after five months that the outcome would not be positive, but obtaining closure enables the family to commence the mourning process.
The fatality does not seem suspicious, based on initial autopsy results issued on March 30 by the Covington Police Department. Captain Justin Bradbury verified that although the inquiry continues, criminal activity is not presently suspected. The formal cause of death will be established by the medical examiner and disclosed when the complete report is finished.
Relatives recall Groves as an individual who lived according to her own principles despite confronting substantial personal obstacles. Her ex-husband Brad Carroll 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 could captivate observers on any dance floor.
Family members conducted a memorial moment for Groves following the discovery, celebrating the life of a grandmother whose addiction challenges did not reduce the affection her family held for her. The family has established a GoFundMe to help cover burial costs as they prepare for her final arrangements.
The Covington Police Department’s Evidence Collection Unit remains engaged in examining the circumstances related to Groves’ death. Investigators are encouraging anyone possessing details about Groves’ whereabouts between late December and late March to reach out to police at 859-292-2234 or Cincinnati/NKY Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
The incident highlights the risks encountered by at-risk groups struggling with addiction and lack of stable housing, especially throughout severe winter weather. Although Groves selected a life without fixed shelter, her family stressed that she was profoundly cherished and sustained meaningful connections with her children during the majority of her life.
For Tyler Carroll and the remaining members of Groves’ surviving family, the verification of her passing—though heartbreaking—offers an ending to the excruciating doubt that characterized the preceding months. They can now concentrate on celebrating her memory and bidding farewell.
