My beautiful daughter died mysteriously while camping...what a private investigator told me has left me distraught
Jessica Paige Kemp, 32, was last seen alive on May 5 while camping alone near Lake Ashbaugh in Arkansas.
Kemp, who was described as an avid camper by her family, called the Greene County Sheriff's Office that evening after she became concerned someone was underneath her vehicle.
Deputies responded but left her, after they determined there was nothing under or in her vehicle.
There was no sign of Kemp for over a month until June 10, when her fiancé Paden Raburn and her family encountered a strong smell while out searching for her.
Raburn said their search had been drawn towards a field after some of Kemp's belongings were found scattered nearby.
Skeletal remains were eventually found two-and-a-half miles from her campsite by deputies. They were formally identified as Kemp shortly after by authorities.
Believing there was more to the story, her mother Sandy Kemp hired a private investigator and is now convinced she was murdered.
She told WREG: 'She didn't get lost, my daughter didn't get lost. I think my daughter was murdered. Actually I know she was.'
Remembering her daughter, she added: 'She was smart, kind, very giving, she'd give away her last dollar.
'She was one of a kind, absolutely beautiful soul, absolutely beautiful.' The Daily Mail has attempted to contact Sandy for further comment on her claims.
Sandy said that her daughter had read a text from her on May 5, which she then followed up with again the following day, it went unanswered.
'She stopped using her debit card, no responses from her to anybody, and we've always been a very, very close family, so we knew something was wrong', she added.
Search teams looking for Kemp found her car abandoned, her purse was still inside and items were scattered around the vehicle.
Officials say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, but Sandy has been critical of the approach.
The Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder responded to her concerns in a post to Facebook before the body of Kemp was found.
In his post, dated May 30, the sheriff said that Kemp had stopped taking medication for her mental health.
He also disclosed that she has a known drug addiction and that it was not uncommon for her to go without speaking to her family for months at a time.
The office also suggested that there was no body cam footage from officers who initially met with Kemp before she disappeared.
Snyder also said that Kemp wasn't reported missing until May 14 after her disappearance was initially reported to another department.
It added: '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.
'Between my patrol deputies and criminal investigators, my department has well over 200 man hours invested in attempting to locate Ms. Kemp.'
Snyder also said there was no signs of foul play at the scene.
An obituary described Kemp as being 'a creative and crafty spirit', who had a love for the outdoors.
It said: 'Paige had a knack for turning the ordinary into something special. She loved painting, crafting, and bringing color and life to the world around her.
'Animals held a special place in her heart—especially turtles—and her gentle spirit made her a beloved presence in every life she touched.
'Paige's sweet soul, love of nature, and genuine heart will be deeply missed by all who knew her.' A memorial service was held last weekend to remember her.
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