Kayla Wright, a 29-year-old woman from Derby, Vermont, went missing just a few days before her body was tragically found in a large container in a secluded part of northern Vermont last week.
The sad discovery led to the arrest of three people in connection with her death.
On February 6, in the quiet town of Troy, Vermont, Wright’s body was found with a gunshot wound to the head, in a container on a sandbar in the Missisquoi River, in the scenic Big Falls area of Missisquoi State Park, near Quebec’s southern border. The news was shared by the Vermont State Police, who also mentioned that Wright was last seen on February 2.
Sara Davis, who’s from Montana and a close friend of Wright’s, shared some fond memories of her. Despite being miles apart, Wright was close to her family, always catching up with them on Facetime, showing that distance really couldn’t put a dent in their bond. Davis and Wright became friends in Big Sky, Montana, a spot known for its ski slopes and hiking trails. Wright, not an outdoorsy person, still managed to charm her way into making loads of friends during her four-year stay before deciding to move back to Vermont.
Wright’s sudden disappearance raised alarms quickly because of her tight-knit relationship with her family and how regularly she touched base with them. The Vermont State Police jumped into action, calling the investigation “active and ongoing,” and even got federal law enforcement to pitch in.
Federal charging documents have pointed fingers at three individuals involved in a drug distribution scheme that had been on the radar of various law enforcement agencies. A probable cause affidavit puts Wright in contact with at least one of those charged in the narcotics conspiracy on the day she vanished. “Wright had been associating with individuals at the subject property, had stayed at the subject property at times, and had been involved with narcotics for some time,” according to the affidavit.
The trio were identified as Jakiy Tramaine Corey Keith, Bryanna Rooney, and Thomas Rooney.
Following an emergency signal, Wright’s phone was found at the Rooney’s place on February 3. Keith, known by nicknames “AB” and “Anthony Borrow,” seemingly took to Facebook to alert a family member about Wright’s death.
Keith’s story, as detailed in the documents, is chilling. He claims to have confronted people at the house, guns in hand, demanding Wright’s whereabouts. He was told that she was shot three times over a dispute about counterfeit money, and her body was then hidden away in a toolbox. The detention memos for the Rooneys and Keith suggest that they might know more about the case than they’re letting on.
Amidst all this, Sara Davis stresses the importance of remembering her friend for the person she was—full of life and loved by many—not just the circumstances surrounding her untimely death.