After Kelley and Ferguson began dating in 2022 after meeting online, he used the name "Kevin" with her because he did not want to reveal his true identity.
Kayla Kelley, 33, found out the man she was dating was actually married and using a false name. As per NBC 5, she had planned to confront "Kevin." However, on January 11, a missing report was filed in her name as she went missing for several days without any contact with her aunt or co-workers. She lived in Collin County, Texas. After a weeks-long search, Kelley's body was uncovered on January 18, in a field in Grand Prairie, Texas, the Collin County Sheriff's Office confirmed.
UPDATE: Collin County jail records now show Ocastor Ferguson, the man charged with kidnapping Kayla Kelley, is also charged with murder. https://t.co/gakXNFnnxc @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/Tg85I67tj6
— Allie Spillyards (@AllieSpillyards) January 21, 2023
Investigators found her car, dumped and "burned beyond recognition," near her boyfriend Ocastor Shavon Ferguson's place of work. Moreover, Ferguson and his wife had recently reported their car stolen, and in a shocking turn, their car was later found near Kelley's home with duct tape, gloves, and a blanket inside it, WFAA reports. On January 13, investigators said they visited Ferguson at work and that during an interview, Ferguson told the authorities, he'd last seen Kelley on January 10 when she dropped him off at work.
On Wednesday, January 18, investigators with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers located a deceased female in a Grand Prairie field. The located remains will be further examined by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
— Collin County Sheriff’s Office (@CCSOTEXAS) January 19, 2023
He also said she was expected to return to bring him lunch at 6 pm but she did not come. He also allegedly told police his Lexus was parked near Kelley's house because he was trying to hide it from his wife, per NBC 5.
Kelley and Ferguson began dating in the summer of 2022 after meeting online. He used the name "Kevin" with her because he did not want to reveal his true identity, reports state.
BREAKING: Tarrant County Medical Examiner confirms the female body found less than 1 mile away from Ocastor Ferguson’s home last night in Grand Prairie is 33-year-old #KaylaKelley.
— Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) January 19, 2023
Ferguson is in jail right now charged with Kelley’s kidnapping. pic.twitter.com/DgYOGbm9yP
In texts discovered by police, Kelley told Ferguson she would tell his wife about her if he didn't respond, WFAA reports. As per the arrest warrant reviewed by NBC 5, Ferguson's wife allegedly told investigators she'd received a text message from an unknown number in recent weeks saying they needed to tell her something but she did not respond to it. Ferguson denied being where the burned car was found and said he had no idea what happened to the vehicle, though he did admit to driving the car during that time period and said Kelley was in the back seat. He told investigators he didn't know her current location or condition. But Ferguson's phone records showed he'd been near Kelley's residence, as well as the location where her car was burned on January 10.
This is the wooded area in Grand Prairie where detectives found Kayla Kelley’s body Thurs night. Real close to homes. A few neighbors say they didn’t see or hear anything unusual. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/B4GCNM7oyF
— Maria Guerrero (@Maria_NBC5) January 19, 2023
As per WFAA, Kelley's body was found less than a mile away from Ferguson's home. He was arrested on January 14 and has been charged with kidnapping and arson. "We believe the person responsible for [Kelley's] death is in custody," Sheriff Jim Skinner told WFAA. "There is reason to believe that Ocastor Ferguson did then and there intentionally and knowingly abduct Kayla Kelley," the affidavit stated. He is being held in the Collin County Jail on bonds of more than $1 million. It's unclear if Ferguson has submitted a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
References:
https://people.com/crime/missing-texas-woman-found-dead-after-planning-confront-boyfriend/
Cover Image Source: Collin County Sheriff's Office