A Kentucky grand jury has ruled the death of a teen found in a lake after a boat party was accidental.
Marly Kinney, 19, vanished during the gathering on Grayson Lake and her body was recovered Sunday, Carter County Commonwealth Attorney Brandon Ison announced. The ruling comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of her disappearance and death.
There was no evidence of struggle or traumatic injury on Kinney’s body, prosecutors said. Her personal belongings remained completely undisturbed, with her swimsuit and jewelry intact when she was found.
The medical examiner determined drowning as the cause of death. Kinney’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of her death measured 0.268%, according to the attorney’s announcement.
That blood alcohol level is more than three times Kentucky’s legal limit of 0.08% for drivers. The finding suggests significant intoxication may have contributed to the circumstances leading to her drowning.
The case had drawn attention as investigators worked to determine what happened during the boat party where Kinney was last seen alive. Friends had gathered on the lake for the social event before the teen went missing.
The intact condition of Kinney’s personal items became a key factor in the investigation, with prosecutors noting the undisturbed state of her swimsuit and jewelry as evidence that no assault or foul play had occurred.
Grayson Lake, located in Carter County in northeastern Kentucky, is a 1,500-acre reservoir popular for boating and recreation. The area draws visitors for summer gatherings on the water.
The accidental ruling closes the official investigation into Kinney’s death, though the high blood alcohol level raises questions about alcohol consumption at the gathering and whether others present could face related scrutiny.