Found Deceased AR - Jessica Paige Kemp, 32, missing from near Lake Ashbaugh, 5 May 2025

[GraceG]

Would remains be skeletal after a month? No idea, but had thought it would need more time?

This time of year, absolutely. How long depends on temperature, humidity, and the presence of insects, (submergence in a substrate such as water. can also impact timing, but this doesn't sound like the case here). The most important, from my personal expeirence in the field, is temperature (the rate of chemical reactions in a cadaver doubles with each 10 degree Celsius rise though humidity or water from the environment buffers those reactions, slowing their effects.

Extreme acidity or alkalinity of the environment can also hasten how quickly enzymes degrade biological molecules If the body is out in the open, versus submerged or fully or partially buried under soil, the timeline is affected, anything blocking exposure to oxygen slowing decomp. So if the remains were out in the open as opposed to buried or submersed in water, with warm temperatures and the insect activity you will likely see this time of year in a non desert environment, a body could easily become skeletonized in a month, IMO.

We always went full hazmat suit on crash scenes where the crashed plane wasn't found for a few weeks unless there had been a serious fire/explosion) as we never knew what we'd find as far as decomp (and thus, biohazards).

 

[SluethinAway]

Would remains be skeletal after a month? No idea, but had thought it would need more time?

My thoughts as well.

 

[tlorik]

Average temps in AR this May have been 70-90 and there have been several severe thunderstorms with lots of rain. Depending on how exposed a body was, I can see where it could be skeletal in a month.

 

[SluethinAway]

Average temps in AR this May have been 70-90 and there have been several severe thunderstorms with lots of rain. Depending on how exposed a body was, I can see where it could be skeletal in a month.

I'm thinking if they think it could be her, she may have been in the water the entire time to reach the advanced state.
Also, some fish will eat anything..Not to sound morbid but true.

 

[tlorik]

Mr. Google says around 3 weeks in humid conditions - much less than that in water tho.

 

[haggis]

This time of year, absolutely. How long depends on temperature, humidity, and the presence of insects, (submergence in a substrate such as water. can also impact timing, but this doesn't sound like the case here). The most important, from my personal expeirence in the field, is temperature (the rate of chemical reactions in a cadaver doubles with each 10 degree Celsius rise though humidity or water from the environment buffers those reactions, slowing their effects.

Extreme acidity or alkalinity of the environment can also hasten how quickly enzymes degrade biological molecules If the body is out in the open, versus submerged or fully or partially buried under soil, the timeline is affected, anything blocking exposure to oxygen slowing decomp. So if the remains were out in the open as opposed to buried or submersed in water, with warm temperatures and the insect activity you will likely see this time of year in a non desert environment, a body could easily become skeletonized in a month, IMO.

We always went full hazmat suit on crash scenes where the crashed plane wasn't found for a few weeks unless there had been a serious fire/explosion) as we never knew what we'd find as far as decomp (and thus, biohazards).

Thanks for the interesting information. Appreciate it.

 

[Pursula]

Skeletal remains found in Greene County on June 10 have been identified as those of a woman who disappeared in early May, the Greene County sheriff's office announced Wednesday.

The remains, found by a two-person search party southwest of Lake Ashbaugh, are those of Jessica Paige Kemp, 32, of Paragould.

Remains found in Greene County identified as missing camper | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Skeletal remains found in Greene County on June 10 have been identified as those of a woman who disappeared in early May, the Greene County sheriff's office announced Wednesday.

www.nwaonline.com

 

[got4lilgirls]

Has the autopsy report been released? Was her death ruled foul play / homicide? Her family is actually one TV market over, but I have been following FB daily.

 

[mlhenn]

Has the autopsy report been released? Was her death ruled foul play / homicide? Her family is actually one TV market over, but I have been following FB daily.

https://wreg.com/news/local/sheriff-says-drugs-played-role-in-missing-womans-death-mother-believes-it-was-murder/

July 16, 2025
For the first time since the news of her death, Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder spoke with WREG about what happened to her, and gave his insight into an ongoing investigation.

What we have learned is that just days before Jessica went missing, she called the police saying there was a man under her car.

“During that interaction she had admitted to the deputy that she was using methamphetamine, and that she also quit taking her mental health medications.”

Greene County learned through their investigation that Kemp had a history with meth. Snyder said that one of the side effects of the drug is that users get very hot.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Snyder’s assumption is that Kemp was using meth, got hot, took her clothes off and swam in a nearby pond where she later got up and laid down, and never woke up.

However…

Last Sunday, we spoke with Jessica’s mom, Sandy, at her memorial in Millington. She believes her daughter was murdered.