Human remains found in Kane County near burned car found in November

DUCK CREEK VILLAGE, Utah — Human remains were found Monday evening near the community of Duck Creek Village in Kane County.

2News confirmed after information was shared with 2News' Brian Schnee that members of the Kane County Sheriff's Office were in a specific area connected to the disappearance of Courtney Lynne Townsend.

“On Monday, May 27, 2024, the Kane County Sheriff's Office received a tip from an individual who was riding his ATV in the Duck Creek Ridge area regarding clothing he had found on the side of a road .The individual knew about the Townsend case and I thought the clothing might be important,” KCSO wrote in a prepared press release. “Detectives and deputies from the Kane County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) responded to the scene. The investigation indicated the presence of human remains with the clothing. KCSO personnel were joined by search and Kane County Rescue, including trained dogs on scene, additional remains were located in the area around the clothing.

“Evidence at the scene leads investigators to believe the remains are those of Courtney Townsend. The remains will be transferred to the custody of the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation and identification.”

According to court records, charges were filed against Townsend on November 16, 2023, for taking his mother's car and debit cards.

Records show the debit cards were used at a gas station, Home Depot and Amazon on 11/16 and 11/17. Townsend was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and multiple counts of unlawful acquisition and unlawful use of a financial card.

Days after Townsend disappeared, a burned car was found near a water tower on Duck Creek Ridge Road in the Dixie National Forest. The car, believed to be the vehicle Townsend stole from his mother a few days earlier.

“The vehicle Courtney was riding in was located in Kane County on November 19, in the forest south of Duck Creek,” KCSO wrote. “The vehicle appeared to be stuck on rocks and had burned. The car was traced to his mother who reported the car stolen to the St. George Police Department (SGPD) on November 16, 2023. The vehicle's mother Courtney filed a missing persons report to St. George Police on December 2, 2023. KCSO and SGPD investigators have worked closely on the case over the past 6 months. Search were hampered due to snowfall and a ground search was not possible until early May the snow had melted sufficiently.

On January 8, 2024, the St. George Police Department shared a missing persons flyer with a description of Courtney Townsend. In the report, Townsend is 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighs approximately 110 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.

The Kane County Sheriff's Office conducted a search of this area in early May. The following weekend, Townsend's family organized a search.

“The Kane County Sheriff’s Office, St. George Police and the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office are actively continuing the investigation.”