BEAUMONT, Texas — After over a year of searching, friends and family of Kay-Alana Turner can finally have some form of closure, tragic as it may be.
It was last Friday that Texas EquuSearch found remains in a wooded area in Montgomery County not far from where Kay-Alana went missing, and today the Montgomery County Forensic Center confirmed through dental records that it was Turner.
"I'm just so sad to see a beautiful woman like that end up like that," said Greg Busceme, the executive director of an art studio that Turner used to frequent.
Friends and family had hoped to find Turner safe and bring her home.
"It's like reliving a second tragedy when you find out the confirmation that it is her," said boyfriend, James Rambo.
Angela Farris, who is the Deputy Director of Texas EquuSearch went into more detail about the search.
"We understand that she crossed over to Spring Creek then crossed the creek. Then went north onto the private property," said Farris.
Her parents believe that she was having a mental health crisis at the time she disappeared.
"She had been at her friends but when she left there, I believe she was headed towards Austin and got lost," said Farris.
Officials say the county medical examiner is still investigating how she died, but have ruled out foul play.
"She had some cardiac issues, she did have asthma. Her inhaler was actually in the car not on her person when she left the vehicle," said Farris.
Her friend Greg Busceme, said that Turner frequently worked on her art and music at the arts studio in Beaumont.
"Some people do one thing well but she did a lot of things well. She had a grin that never stopped," said Busceme.
James Rambo says that while he is sad to hear the news, he's grateful to have been a part of Turner's life.
"She would take this effort and this time to check in on others. Which was really beautiful and wonderful. I know at some point it will be a good thing that we have this closure," said Rambo.