AZ-Pandora Kjolsrud, 18 and Evan Clark, 17-Found shot to death in Maricopa County -May 27, 2025

[otto]

I haven't found anything that describes the scene. They went to the area to camp over the weekend, but was their tent set up? Had they been there for a day or two before they were murdered?

If not, then it's possible that someone followed them up the road and cornered them towards the end of the road.

Is there any information about time of death?

OpenTopoMap - Topographische Karten aus OpenStreetMap

direkt zur Karte...

opentopomap.org

 

[Chimera]

Do we think this was a targeted hit (doubtful as both young people seemed to not have enemies) , or that Evan and Pandora inadvertently saw something they shouldn't have ?
Imo.

 

[starlightstarbright]

Is this the sort of area where something like marijuana growhouses might exist in backcountry areas? Just thinking about what sort of criminal elements they might stumble upon. Though seems a stupid way to draw attention to any clandestine activities!

 

[otto]

Do we think this was a targeted hit (doubtful as both young people seemed to not have enemies) , or that Evan and Pandora inadvertently saw something they shouldn't have ?
Imo.

My impression at this time, since there's no description of being found in or beside their tent, is that someone followed them up the road and they were murdered before they started camping. We need more information.

 

[otto]

Is this the sort of area where something like marijuana growhouses might exist in backcountry areas? Just thinking about what sort of criminal elements they might stumble upon. Though seems a stupid way to draw attention to any clandestine activities!

It does not look like a marijuana grow op location.

Google Earth

 

[acutename]

Seven towers, one specifically covers Mt. Ord. Not an expert, but it would seem that based on what I've seen in many other cases, this is not an impossible task. Cell tower dumps, particularly in these type of areas, could yield clues.

FCC Registered Cell Phone and Antenna Towers in Payson, Arizona

wonder if there is a camera on the road up there

apparently only one way in and out:

Mount Ord | Arizona Highways

Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest Some scenic drives require a certain amount of commitment. Whether it’s time, vehicle requirements or sheer guts, you often have to give a little in order to get Arizona’s spectacular views in return. Fortunately, the drive to Mount Ord is the...

www.arizonahighways.com

 

[legomonster]

I just saw the article on People Magazine website. Can I ask if there was a forum on here for her disappearance both times in 2023 and Jan of 2025? Sorry if I missed that.

I am confused. Are you talking about Emily Pike?

 

[Knox]

I just saw the article on People Magazine website. Can I ask if there was a forum on here for her disappearance both times in 2023 and Jan of 2025? Sorry if I missed that.

I think you’re in the wrong forum? Pandora was not previously missing.

 

[hey-Debbie]

I think you’re in the wrong forum? Pandora was not previously missing.

Yes, I was. I'll remove my post if I can.

 

[Niner]

Came across this nice picture of Pandora

Third teen death in national forest raises alarm as two high schoolers found shot during camping trip

With the death of 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark, three teenagers have been found dead in Arizona's Tonto National Forest since February.

www.foxnews.com

 

[otto]

Came across this nice picture of Pandora

View attachment 593091

Third teen death in national forest raises alarm as two high schoolers found shot during camping trip

With the death of 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark, three teenagers have been found dead in Arizona's Tonto National Forest since February.

www.foxnews.com

That's interesting. Although we have very little information, I am curious about autopsy. First thought is that Pandora Kjolsrud was targeted. If we knew more about whether the couple had time to set up their tent and spend a night camping, we could begin to figure out whether someone followed them up the road, or came across them a day or two later. Were they killed at the same time or two days apart?

Did anyone read about time of death? Which day?

If another teen girl was found in the area in the last 4 months, it's probably a good idea to look around to see whether there are other remains in the area. I'm curious whether there are other missing teens from Mesa and surrounding area in the last 3 years.

"The remains of Emily Pike, 14, were found on Feb. 14 in Tonto National Park, 19 miles north of Globe, Arizona. She went missing from a group home in January, according to Fox 10, which reported her death was treated as a homicide. Her body was found dismembered more than 70 miles away from the group home she was reported missing from."
same link

Google Map

 

[Knox]

JMO, but there is likely no link in this case to Emily’s. Very different circumstances.

Hope we get an update from LE soon on this one. I feel the perp will turn out to be someone known to at least one of them. More likely Pandora, all just MOO.

 

[Cryptic]

Just bouncing off your post - I don’t live in the USA - but is there not a way for law enforcement to track all cell phones that were in the vicinity of the murders over the Memorial Day weekend?

Yes, well, to a degree.

Law enforcement can request data showing what cell phones gave check in pings to various cell towers in the area.

This tactic was used in the investigation of the horrific hate crime murder of a Mennonite woman in New Mexico committed by a former Mennonite. The police were able to trace which phones had been at the abduction site, then traveled to the murder site.

Good tracking was obtained in that case due to the prevalence of cell phone towers along interstates. In areas with spotty, or no cell phone coverage, exact tracking of where cell phone users went in the area is not going to be possible.

But.... I think the police could use a cell phone tower as a choke point for general tracking. Say:
- Cell phones 01- 37 pinged on tower "T" and Tower "U"
- Pinging tower "T" and "U" means they likely went into the remote forest that day
- Users 04 and 33 have "bad attitude" INCEL type social media messaging.
- We don't know exactly where they were in the area, but they likely entered the forest on dirt road "DR".

 

[legomonster]

JMO, but there is likely no link in this case to Emily’s. Very different circumstances.

Hope we get an update from LE soon on this one. I feel the perp will turn out to be someone known to at least one of them. More likely Pandora, all just MOO.

Several papers have been written on the topic of disfigurement after murder and majority of murderers in study not only knew the victim, but also disfigure the corpse for the purposes of trying to hide the body. I can’t remember if same study also showed the murderer did it where they killed the person, there have been several. I won't name the news outlet but they grouped Emily's murder with Pandora and Evan's. I can see why it could get confusing. Each have a different sheriff's office investigating the matters, and Emily has the FBI too for obvious reasons. And, yeah, they aren't related.

 

[otto]

Several papers have been written on the topic of disfigurement after murder and majority of murderers in study not only knew the victim, but also disfigure the corpse for the purposes of trying to hide the body. I can’t remember if same study also showed the murderer did it where they killed the person, there have been several. I won't name the news outlet but they grouped Emily's murder with Pandora and Evan's. I can see why it could get confusing. Each have a different sheriff's office investigating the matters, and Emily has the FBI too for obvious reasons. And, yeah, they aren't related.

Pike's arms and hands were missing. Her head, torso and legs were found. That was not done to delay identification of the body. It may have been done to eliminate evidence that was on her hands, or to more easily transport her body. I don't think it can be assumed that missing hands means she knew her murderer.

She left her group home and wanted to be with her mother and grandmother. She had been stopped by police walking that route in the past, so it's possible she decided to hitchhike. It's also possible that she met a stranger who listened to her story and offered to drive her to her family.

Pike's body was found North of Globe towards Mount Ord. If this is a stranger/opportunist/predator murder, then it's possible that the murders are connected. We know that the campers were shot, but we don't know anything else about when they were shot, injuries, or autopsy.

 

[legomonster]

Pike's arms and hands were missing. Her head, torso and legs were found. That was not done to delay identification of the body. It may have been done to eliminate evidence that was on her hands, or to more easily transport her body. I don't think it can be assumed that missing hands means she knew her murderer.

She left her group home and wanted to be with her mother and grandmother. She had been stopped by police walking that route in the past, so it's possible she decided to hitchhike. It's also possible that she met a stranger who listened to her story and offered to drive her to her family.

Pike's body was found North of Globe towards Mount Ord. If this is a stranger/opportunist/predator murder, then it's possible that the murders are connected. We know that the campers were shot, but we don't know anything else about when they were shot, injuries, or autopsy.

View attachment 593425

I didn't say it pertained to her case. I said majority of disfigurement cases after murder in several papers were by someone the victim knew and to hide the body. There is a reason why FBI is involved with Emily’s. At this time we can't speculate on if Emily knew her killer or not. If they thought the two different cases were related both sheriff's offices would be working on it as well as FBI. If they have publicly stated this, let me know.

 

[otto]

I didn't say it pertained to her case. I said majority of disfigurement cases after murder in several papers were by someone the victim knew and to hide the body. There is a reason why FBI is involved with Emily’s. At this time we can't speculate on if Emily knew her killer or not. If they thought the two different cases were related both sheriff's offices would be working on it as well as FBI. If they have publicly stated this, let me know.

I wondered whether the FBI are involved because the murdered girl is Indigenous. What other reason would FBI be involved?

"The FBI works in collaboration with Tribal police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and enforce laws related to major crimes, such as homicides, kidnappings, and drug trafficking, that occur within its jurisdiction on Tribal lands.

The FBI's role also includes:

• Initiatives related to Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP)"

Indian Country Crime | Federal Bureau of Investigation

As part of its Indian Country Crime program, the FBI works closely with a range of partners, including tribal police and federal agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

www.fbi.gov

 

[legomonster]

I wondered whether the FBI are involved because the murdered girl is Indigenous. What other reason would FBI be involved?

"The FBI works in collaboration with Tribal police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and enforce laws related to major crimes, such as homicides, kidnappings, and drug trafficking, that occur within its jurisdiction on Tribal lands.

The FBI's role also includes:

• Initiatives related to Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP)"

Indian Country Crime | Federal Bureau of Investigation

As part of its Indian Country Crime program, the FBI works closely with a range of partners, including tribal police and federal agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

www.fbi.gov

I do not think at this time it's because of that. It's not every case you see multiple agencies create a task force for a homicide, nor do you see the FBI match a large sum, $75,000, for information leading to an arrest(s) so quickly. The task force does not include the sheriff's office investigating the murders of Pandora and Evan.

 

[LadyL]

Yes, well, to a degree.

Law enforcement can request data showing what cell phones gave check in pings to various cell towers in the area.

This tactic was used in the investigation of the horrific hate crime murder of a Mennonite woman in New Mexico committed by a former Mennonite. The police were able to trace which phones had been at the abduction site, then traveled to the murder site.

Good tracking was obtained in that case due to the prevalence of cell phone towers along interstates. In areas with spotty, or no cell phone coverage, exact tracking of where cell phone users went in the area is not going to be possible.

But.... I think the police could use a cell phone tower as a choke point for general tracking. Say:
- Cell phones 01- 37 pinged on tower "T" and Tower "U"
- Pinging tower "T" and "U" means they likely went into the remote forest that day
- Users 04 and 33 have "bad attitude" INCEL type social media messaging.
- We don't know exactly where they were in the area, but they likely entered the forest on dirt road "DR".

what is a choke point?

 

[Knox]

what is a choke point?

A limit?