Remains found in Kane County positively identified as Courtney Townsend

DUCK CREEK VILLAGE, Utah — Remains discovered in remote Kane County on Memorial Day have been positively identified by the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office.

The Kane County Sheriff's Office shared the update with 2News on Wednesday.

“The Utah State Medical Examiner has confirmed, through the use of dental records, that the remains located at Cedar Mountain are those of Courtney Lynne Townsend,” the Kane County Sheriff’s Office wrote. “The remains were found on May 27, 2024 by an individual who was riding his ATV in the Duck Creek Ridge area and noticed clothing along the roadside.”

“The Kane County Sheriff's Office along with St. George Police Department detectives and search and rescue personnel have conducted several searches since the discovery of the clothing in search of additional evidence,” wrote the KCSO. “Evidence found at the scene helped confirm Townsend’s identity.”

2News obtained an incident contact report detailing when a Kane County Sheriff's Office deputy located a Volkswagen sedan on fire near the village of Duck Creek on November 19, 2023.

“There was fresh snow that had fallen overnight and was approximately half an inch thick,” the deputy wrote. “I found a completely burned 4-door sedan parked about 10 feet from the road with the rear facing the meadow and the hood facing the roadway. The vehicle was cold to the touch. There were no fingerprints. not around the vehicle, so I was able to determine that the car had burned before the snow fell.”

The deputy documented various items found near the car, including Navy dog ​​tags, a wooden box, a wallet and credit cards as well as driver's licenses. None of the ID cards belonged to Townsend. The deputy also noted that the car was reported stolen on November 15, 2023 by Courtney's mother. The deputy also found various personal items, including sunglasses, earrings and more. The evidence was turned over to a Kane County Sheriff's Office detective and the vehicle was towed.

In an interview with 2News on May 28, 2024, the Kane County Sheriff's Office said they do not suspect foul play was involved, but the investigation is ongoing.

“The Kane County Sheriff's Office along with St. George Police Department detectives and search and rescue personnel have conducted several searches since the discovery of the clothing in search of additional evidence,” KCSO wrote in an update. “Evidence found at the scene helped confirm Townsend’s identity.”

A celebration of life sharing is planned for Saturday, June 15 at 1165 E Bulloch Street in Washington, Utah. The event starts at 1 p.m. More information can be found on the Justice for Courtney Facebook page.