Nineteen year old Carina Saunders was reported missing by her mother on October 10th, 2011. By October 13th, Carina would be found, but not in any way that anyone would have or could have expected.
Just a few years prior, Carina would probably be the last person anyone could have guessed would end up as such internet fodder. She was a star student, winning spelling bees and graduating high school early. Carina is said to have made friends incredibly easy, with such an outgoing and bubbly personality. I read one person describing her as a shining star. She was an avid tree climber and had what was described as an infectious laugh. Even one of the last known people to see her alive, a friend from high school, would comment on her wonderful personality. To so many- she was so much more than “that girl found in a duffel bag”
Her mother, posting flyers all over Oklahoma City after Carina’s disappearance, was absolutely convinced her daughter was going to call her ranting and raving for plastering Carina’s picture everywhere. What happened instead was that her mother heard on the radio that a body had been found behind the Homeland grocery store in Bethany on October 13th.
A human society that was setting traps for feral cats came across two bags on October 13th. One was a small laundry bag and the other was a Nike duffel bag. After authorities were called it was discovered that the bags contained the dismembered remains of Carina Saunders.
At this point, rumors abound about the case of Carina Saunders. In the year prior to her murder it is true that she had begun to struggle with drug addiction. What is equally true is that in the weeks prior to her murder she had admitted herself to a rehab program, and seemed to be doing much better, even asking a close friend to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings with her.
In the weeks prior to her going missing, Carina had been staying with her cousin. On the 28th of September the two went to an Oklahoma City area Taco Bell, and Carina left with a man named Kenny. This would be the last day anyone in Carina’s family can actually verify that she was alive- it is also the last day she would make a social media post, which is how she kept in contact with anyone. Rumors about what Kenny and Carina’s actual relationship to one another was abound- anything from Kenny being Carina’s pimp, to him trying to make a porno with her. At some point during the day of September 28th, Kenny claims that he dropped off Carina at a Bethany apartment complex, which seems to be true. A friend of hers from high school would later see Carina in that area at his apartment complex on either the 6th or 7th of October. While the timeline of Carina’s life and murder become very hazy after this encounter, we know she was likely alive until at least the 8th of October. She would be spotted on a surveillance camera of a business that was some 20 miles away from Bethany. On the footage she would be seen getting into a red pickup truck that appeared to have several men in it, though only one would get out of the vehicle.
A day later, on the 9th, a family member of Carina’s would get a threatening text from a man named Kyle Savage, saying quote “I will bury you next to Carina”. Savage has yet to fully explain this message, only saying it was taken out of context and that he had believed he was texting someone else.
What happened between October 8th and Carina’s remains being found on the 13th, largely remains a mystery. As does any motive for killing her in such a gruesome fashion. The authorities have had several persons of interest, even believe that they know where the killing took place- but yet charges have failed to either be filed or stick to those who they have been filed against. At this point, the building where it is believed Carina was murdered has been demolished, and with it any secrets it might have held. Claims that a video of Carina’s horrific murder exists, however any attempts to find it have failed.
Its now been almost a decade since Carina Saunders was murdered. Ten years of birthdays, holidays and spending time with their loved one that her family has missed out on. Justice seems to get so close only to then be snatched away from them.
Recently the OSBI has released a sketch of an individual they are interested in speaking with in regards to Carina’s murder, I have included it with this post.
If you have any information at all regarding the murder of Carina Saunders, please contact the OSBI at (800) 522-8017. You may do so anonymously.