A search lasting several months for a Kentucky grandmother who went missing concluded tragically after officials located her body at what appeared to be an encampment for homeless individuals close to Covington.
Carol Groves, 65, was found dead on March 28, 2026, in a forested section in the 800 block of Crescent Avenue, east of Devou Park, according to the Covington Police Department. Law enforcement arrived around 7 p.m. following reports of a deceased person and found severely decomposed human remains, subsequently identified as the woman who had vanished since the end of December.
Groves was located inside a tire at what seemed to be an encampment for the homeless, her son, Tyler Carroll, reported. The somber site was situated not far from the 12th Street bridge, a location where Carroll indicated his mother frequently spent time. Authorities informed the family that she had been deceased for a considerable period before the discovery.
The finding delivers a heartbreaking resolution to relatives who passed the winter period wishing for their loved one’s safe return. Groves was initially reported missing on December 20, 2025, following a loss of communication with her children—an unusual departure from her normal behavior.
Authorities described Groves in the missing person report as standing 5 feet 4 inches tall with an approximate weight of 120 pounds. Her last confirmed sighting placed her in pajama pants and pink Crocs, covered in a blanket, in the vicinity of John Street in Covington.
Carroll told Fox affiliate WXIX-TV that his mother had selected a life without a fixed shelter 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, relatives grew increasingly worried. The missing person report was filed shortly before Christmas, initiating a search effort that extended through the harshest winter months in Northern Kentucky. The 65-year-old grandmother faced severe cold while residing on the streets, heightening the urgency of the search as time continued.
Even with the tragic conclusion, Carroll conveyed a sense of closure after finally learning his mother’s outcome following months of painful uncertainty. He shared with WXIX that after five months had passed, he anticipated bad news, 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 does not appear suspicious. Captain Justin Bradbury verified that although the investigation continues, foul play is not presently under consideration. The medical examiner will establish the official cause of death and issue it when the final report is complete.
Family members remember Groves as a woman who lived life on her own terms despite facing significant personal challenges. Her ex-husband Brad Carroll told NBC affiliate WLWT-TV that she should be remembered as generous, warm and full of life. He recalled her as a talented dancer who could command attention on any dance floor.
Family members conducted a memorial tribute for Groves following the discovery, celebrating the life of a grandmother whose addiction battles did not reduce the affection her family held for her. Relatives established a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs as they made arrangements for her burial.
The Evidence Collection Unit of the Covington Police Department remains engaged in examining the circumstances of Groves’ death. Investigators are requesting that anyone possessing information about Groves’ whereabouts between late December and late March reach out to police at 859-292-2234 or Cincinnati/NKY Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
The situation highlights the danger encountered by at-risk populations fighting addiction and lack of stable housing, especially during severe winter weather. Although Groves selected a life without a fixed shelter, her family stressed that she was profoundly cherished and sustained strong connections with her children throughout the majority of her life.
For Tyler Carroll and other surviving relatives of Groves, the verification of her death, though heartbreaking, offers closure to the prolonged uncertainty that characterized the preceding months. They are now able to concentrate on celebrating her memory and bidding farewell.