Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@currentargus.com

A Carlsbad woman was found dead Wednesday, Feb. 26, outside her apartment at the Village of Carlsbad Apartments in the 3800 block of National Parks Highway.

Jadyn Kennedy, 31, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 24, and was last seen on surveillance footage at about 8:05 a.m. Feb. 20 leaving the Sleep Inn and Suites hotel at 3825 National Parks Highway on the south end of town.

Kennedy’s death was being investigated by the Carlsbad Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Her remains were being investigated by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.

Carlsbad police Lt. Andrew Swanson said law enforcement will await autopsy results before proceeding with the case, and declined to say if police believed a crime had occurred.

Swanson also declined to say if Kennedy appeared to have suffered any injuries, if anyone was present at the scene where she was found or if any suspects or persons of interest were being sought. He did say family members were notified of Kennedy’s death and were in contact with police.

Kennedy was last in contact with her family who live outside of Carlsbad on Feb. 19, according to police, and family members reported her missing to Carlsbad police five days later.

Swanson said Kennedy recently moved to Carlsbad from Texas, but it was unclear exactly how long she’d been in town. He said police had been investigating the case since Kennedy was reported missing, and the inquiry led them to the apartment complex where she was found.

“A lot will be determined by the results of the autopsy,” he said.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to call the Carlsbad Police Department at 575-885-2111, extension 0, or Sgt. Jacob Castenda at extension 7134.

Tips can also be made anonymously through Eddy County Crimestoppers at 575-887-1888, at eddycountycrimestoppers.com or on the mobile app P3 Tips.