North Carolina Woman Found Safe Months After Car Discovered Near Death Valley

A North Carolina resident, who had been missing for over eight months, was recently located in Colorado, alive and well.

Kelsey Pittman was last heard from by her family in November 2024, according to a release from the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, which oversees California’s Death Valley National Park. She was 33 during her disappearance.

On December 2, 2024, Pittman was sighted for the last time in St. George, Utah, as per the database of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS).

Reports of an unattended vehicle led deputies from the Inyo County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service to a secluded sector of Death Valley on February 5, 2025. This location is approximately 260 miles distant from St. George.

The vehicle, a 2009 Chevrolet HHR with North Carolina license plates, was found in an area frequented by winter campers, confirmed to be Pittman’s.

After thoroughly examining the car and vicinity, law enforcement found no traces of Pittman. This initiated a comprehensive missing person probe engaging diverse law enforcement units, drone operators, cadaver detection dogs, and volunteer search teams. Regrettably, no further evidence emerged from this site.

In May 2025, Pittman’s case was officially recorded in NAMUS. Her mother cooperated with authorities, offering insight that her daughter might have assumed alternate identities such as "Infinity Jane" or "Jane Jones."

Finally, by July 22, Pittman was located in Colorado, though specifics about her exact whereabouts or condition weren't disclosed. With a focus on maintaining Pittman’s privacy, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office refrained from releasing additional details, and CBS News sought further comments from them.

The Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude towards its investigative team, thanking the many law enforcement organizations, search and rescue volunteers, and community members who contributed to spreading the word and aiding in the case.