Southern Utah (ABC4) — The family of Courtney Townsend, a Utah woman who disappeared in 2023 and whose remains were later found in two locations in Kane County, is asking the southern Utah community for any information related to her disappearance.
Townsend was reported missing in 2023 when a car was found in the woods south of Duck Creek and traced to her mother. Human remains, later identified as Townsend’s, were found in two locations in Kane County, once in 2024 and again in 2025. According to the family, the case has “gone cold” since the remains were discovered, but they still have some unanswered questions.
“The police are at a standstill on the case,” said Courtney’s sister, Dallas. “As far as I know, they don’t have any recourse, they don’t get any answers that are satisfactory to them, and we don’t get any answers that are satisfactory to us.”
The family is searching for answers and trying to piece together the details of Townsend’s disappearance.
“We just wanted to know what she was doing, what took her from telling her mom she was on her way home 15 minutes away to disappearing for a few hours and then being stopped in the middle of a hurricane,” Dallas said.
Dallas said this pursuit of information had nothing to do with the police department but was an effort to “piece the puzzle together” and solve the mystery for her family.
Utah woman’s remains found a mile away from where her ‘pristine remains’ were found last year
“I just met her kids this weekend and it’s so hard because they keep gushing about Kourtney’s pictures and she doesn’t get to see them grow up and it breaks my heart,” Dallas said. “The least I can do is give them answers about what happened to their mother.”
Dallas told ABC4 the family was handing out fliers along a route to Kane County and Kanab. The family also posted information about the distribution of the flyers on their social media page with the title “Justice for Courtney.“
The family is asking anyone who had contact with Courtney before November 19, 2023, or has any information that may be relevant to her disappearance, to please contact them. Anyone with information or who would like to assist the family is asked to contact the family Facebook page Or call or text 435-619-1250.
“We’re trying not to let her be forgotten. I don’t want to take the time to take her away, you know, I don’t think it’s fair to her,” she said.
ABC4 has reached out to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office for comment on the status of Townsend’s case but has not yet heard back.
background
Courtney Townsend was first reported missing in December 2023.
Remains found in Kane County believed to be missing woman
Townsend’s mother reported her car was stolen on November 16, 2023. Three days later, a vehicle was found in the forest south of Duck Creek “appearing to be stuck on some rocks.” That car can be traced to Townsend’s mother.
Officials said winter weather in the area has hampered search efforts, preventing ground searches until the snow melts sufficiently.
On May 27, 2024, a person riding an all-terrain vehicle in the Yaxiling area Noticed some clothes on the roadside and reported the incident to officials. June 12, 2024 Kane County Sheriff’s Office Remains confirmed to belong to Townsend.
In 2023, officials said evidence found at the scene helped identify Townsend.
On May 8, 2025, a hunter reported finding “possible human remains” on Cedar Mountain, about a mile from where Courtney Townsend’s original remains were found in 2024. The Cedar Hill remains were later identified as those of Townsend.
Trevor Myers and Aubre B. Jennings contributed to this report.
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