Marly Kinney, 19, was last seen June 24 at Grayson Lake.
GRAYSON, Ky. — A 23-year-old Ashland man has been charged with boating under the influence after 19-year-old Marly Kinney disappeared during a boat outing Wednesday afternoon at Grayson Lake in northeastern Kentucky.
Kentucky State Police arrested Cameron P. Conley after he reported that Kinney, who had been on his boat, could not be found. The search has drawn state and local agencies to the lake, where crews have used boats, drones, aerial support and K-9 teams while focusing mainly on the water.
Kinney, of Ashland, was last seen Wednesday afternoon, June 24, at Grayson Lake, according to game wardens with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The lake sits in Carter and Elliott counties and is a popular summer boating area. Officials have not released a full timeline of how Kinney disappeared or said whether investigators believe she entered the water at a specific location. Her disappearance was reported after Conley told marina staff that he could not locate her. Kentucky State Police then responded to Grayson Lake Marina to help with the missing-person search.
According to an arrest citation described by local reports, troopers spoke with Conley at Boat Ramp Road in Grayson around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. A trooper reported smelling alcohol and seeing that Conley’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Conley told police he had consumed alcoholic beverages while operating the boat, according to the citation. Police said he agreed to a preliminary breath test. The test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.137%, above the 0.08% legal limit for operating a boat or watercraft. Conley was arrested on one count of operating a boat or watercraft while intoxicated or under the influence, first offense.
Conley was taken to the Carter County Detention Center and later released, according to reports. Authorities have not announced any additional charges tied to Kinney’s disappearance. The BUI case is separate from the missing-person search, which remains active. Officials have not said whether Conley has entered a plea or whether he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. A court appearance is expected in July.
Search crews continued working through the week, pausing at times because of darkness and weather. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials said the effort included Kentucky State Police aerial support, drones, boats and K-9 assistance. Local fire crews, emergency management officials and other agencies also assisted. The search entered its third day Friday and was expected to resume Saturday as conditions allowed. Officials said the main search area remained on the water, though they have not publicly released all areas checked by crews.
Kinney’s family thanked first responders, volunteers and community members for their support as the search continued. Family members said they were grateful for the people who had helped spread information and assist crews near the lake. The case has drawn wide attention in eastern Kentucky, especially in Ashland and Carter County, where missing-person posts and updates have circulated on social media.
Several details remain unknown, including the exact point where Kinney was last seen, how many people were on or near the boat, and what investigators have learned from witnesses. Officials have not said whether foul play is suspected. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Kentucky State Police are leading the response, with local agencies assisting as needed.
As of Sunday, June 28, Kinney remained missing, and the search and investigation were continuing. Officials have said anyone with information should contact emergency dispatchers so it can be routed to the agencies handling the case.