Jessica Paige Kemp was contacted by a Greene County Deputy Sheriff on 05/05/2025 at a primitive camping site at the Wildlife Management Area adjacent to Lake Ashbaugh, located in extreme Northwest Greene County. Kemp had placed a 911 call to dispatch to report something or someone under her car.
Upon the deputy’s arrival, it was determined that nothing was under or in Kemp’s vehicle. During the Crisis Intervention trained deputy’s conversation with Kemp, it was learned (confirmed by radio traffic) that Kemp had recently stopped taking prescription medications to treat mental health. At the time of the deputy’s interview of Kemp, she did not meet the criteria for being taken into custody under the provisions afforded to Crisis Intervention Trained officers under Act 423 of 2017. Kemp advised the deputy that she would follow up with her physician regarding her mental health medications.
Kemp was not reported missing by family members until 05/14/2025, nine days after she was contacted by my deputy. When she was reported missing, she was reported missing to the Jonesboro Police Department. When our department learned of the missing persons report, we responded to the campsite to begin investigating. A timeline of actions from 05/14/2025 until today is listed below. Be advised that this timeline is not all inclusive, as it does not include every single action or the number of hours dedicated to these tasks, specifically the review of data dumps from devices and cell towers. Between my patrol deputies and criminal investigators, my department has well over 200 man hours invested in attempting to locate Ms. Kemp.
Details that were discerned early on in the investigation include:
- Kemp has a known drug addiction
- Kemp commonly does not have contact with family for weeks and months at a time
- It is normal for Kemp to camp in remote locations just as she was at Lake Ashbaugh
- There were no signs of foul play at the campsite or immediate area
Investigation Timeline:
05/14/2025
Responded to Ashbaugh-photographed camp site
Arkansas Game and Fish and Greene County S.O. conducted a grid search (39 acres approximately)
Greene County Sheriff’s Department flew a Drone
Captain Thomas contacted Morgan Nick Foundation via Email requesting assistance with a flyer
05/15/2025
Greene County Sheriff’s department and Arkansas Game and fish conducted water searches with 2 boats for the entire day
Greene County Sheriff’s Department took down the camp site and towed car to S.O.
Greene County Lt. Ashley Kulin called every hospital and jail within 100 miles checking for Jessica Kemp
Police Chief Kelly Baker (Rector PD) did a search of the area with his dog
05/16/2025
ATT Exigent circumstances on phone 870-–*
Verizon Exigent on 870-–* 870-–*
Possible sighting in Marmaduke (didn’t pan out)
Sent emergency disclosure order to text now
Facebook exigent circumstances was sent. They would only provide subscriber name.
Verizon Pings started at 2:32
Called Google emergency disclosure line
Contacted TEXSAR Canine team
Possible sighting Strawberry Ar. Traveled to Strawberry Arkansas to look for video
Spoke with Paden Rayburn regarding her social media
Spoke with Paden Rayburn a second time
Interview
Interview * and
Thermal Drone Grid Search 3 a.m. until 11 a.m.
05/17/2025
Sgt. Crittenden-Spoke with Morgan Nick Foundation again requesting flyer
Sgt. Crittenden-Spoke with TEXSAR canine team (they couldn’t come until after memorial day due to prior engagements)
05/18/2025
Captain Thomas made contact with Morgan Nick Foundation requesting flyer. Taryn stated she printed a flyer on 05/17/2025 and shared it on their page but forgot to forward it to the Sheriff’s Office.
Captain Thomas made contact with Sandra Kemp and advised her we had requested the Morgan Nick flyer again and would be making a post.
05/19/2025
Phone interview Deputy Brian Tilghman
3-hour meeting with Mom and brother of Jessica Kemp (Meeting with CID and Sheriff and Chief)
Traveled to Dollar General at Lorado to request video
Requested video from Lorado Grill
Called ** about camera’s on his hunting cabin
At Ashbaugh collected clothing in woods found by family
Went to ** *** requesting video
Captain Thomas and Sgt. Crittenden interviewed Paden Raburn (after hours) collected and dumped his phone while he waited
Canvassed area for cameras and spoke to neighbors
Captain Thomas made contact with Emergency Management and requested Cadaver Dog contacts.
Captain Thomas made contact with 3RK9 Search Foundation and requested dogs. Captain Thomas was told the soonest the dogs could be here would be Wednesday 05/28/2025.
05/20/2025
Received multiple messages from Sandra Kemp asking questions.
Spoke to Ms. Kemp via phone
Checked back in with Dollar General
Processed Raburn’s phone
Looked for Body Cam footage and prior reports
Submitted request to Facebook for data on Kemp’s account
Sgt. Crittenden and Sgt. Jackson spoke with Cody Turner who brought in alleged evidence
Spoke with * requesting that *** come back in
Contact with DG supervisor -submitted letter requesting video
Back to DG to get video
Interview ** *
Interview ** **
05/21/2025
Search warrant for cell records on ATT – account
Search Warrant sent to Judge
Search warrant signed and sent to ATT
05/23/2025
Interview *
Interview *
Interview *
Interview *
05/27/2025
Search warrant for Tower Dump
Spoke with about a tip
Spoke with Lt. from Munford, Tennessee
Went to Ashbaugh and another Campsite on a lead
Detective Crittenden got urgent call from Family-called them back to find out the private investigator found one of the witnesses and interviewed him
05/28/2025
(All Day)Water and land search with Cadaver Dogs (Game and Fish, Greene County SO) two boats , 5 dogs, 3 handlers and LLE
Search warrant for Jessica Paige Kemp’s Facebook profile
05/29/2025
(Half Day) Water and land search with Cadaver Dogs (Greene County SO) two boats , 5 dogs, 3 handlers and LLE
Followed up on possible sighting in Paragould (Unfounded)
05/30/2025
Followed up on anonymous tip in another county
Interviewed * ***
Received anonymous tip in process of being followed up on
The Greene County Sheriff’s Department has worked diligently on this case, and I am very thankful for my dedicated investigators and deputies that have put in numerous hours of work to locate Ms. Kemp. To reiterate, there were no signs of foul play at the scene. Ms. Kemp is thirty-two years of age. She is free to live her life as she sees fit, including not having contact with family and/or friends. However, until we locate her or receive word from her that she is fine and does not want to be found by anyone, we will continue to pursue any leads that we become aware of.
I have attached the missing persons flyer for Ms. Kemp once again for reference.
- Sheriff Brad Snyder