Grandma Who Disappeared Around Thanksgiving Found in the Woods 

A heartbreaking search that stretched for months has come to a grim end after a Kentucky grandmother who disappeared just before Christmas was found dead in a wooded area.

Carol Graves, 65, was reported missing on December 20, 2025, after her family realized something wasn’t right. While it wasn’t unusual for her to go off the grid for days at a time, this time felt different — and far more serious.

Police said Graves was last seen wrapped in a blanket, wearing pajama pants and pink Crocs, a haunting image that would stick with her loved ones as the days turned into weeks… and then months.

The case took a devastating turn on March 29, when officers in Covington responded to reports of a badly decomposed body found near Crescent Avenue. Authorities later confirmed it was Graves.

For her family, the discovery brought both pain and a sense of closure.

Her son, Tyler Carroll, revealed that his mother had long struggled with addiction and chose to live a transient lifestyle, often disappearing for short periods. But this time, there was no call. No sign. Just silence.

“It wasn’t nothing for her to go do this for a couple of days or a week,” he said. “But she always reached out.”

As time passed, hope slowly gave way to reality.

“Five months in, I knew I wasn’t going to get a phone call saying my mom had won the lottery and was living on an island somewhere,” he said. “I knew what this was going to be.”

Even so, he admitted the outcome was harder than he imagined — though finally having answers may help him sleep at night.

Despite the hardships she faced, those closest to Graves say she was far more than her struggles.

Her ex-husband, Brad Carroll, remembered her as vibrant and full of life — someone who lit up every room she walked into.

“She’s the best dance partner I’ve ever had,” he said. “We used to clean up the dance floor.”

Authorities say the investigation is still ongoing, but early autopsy results suggest her death does not appear to be suspicious.

For a family that spent months searching for answers, the mystery may be over — but the heartbreak is just beginning.