In the late summer of 2023, a 32-year-old woman named Alana Ranae Carroll vanished from the Battle Ground area in Washington, leaving behind a young son and a worried family. Alana was last seen by her grandmother on August 15, 2023. At the time, she was navigating a difficult period in her life, struggling with substance use disorder and staying at various residences throughout northern Clark County. Despite these challenges, she was known for her charismatic personality and loving heart, and she typically stayed in frequent contact with her family. When days turned into weeks with no word from her, her grandmother's concern grew, leading her to officially report Alana missing on September 15, 2023. Alana, who often traveled by foot, had connections in the nearby communities of Yacolt, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
The investigation into Alana's disappearance began to take shape after her grandmother connected with several of Alana's friends. They led detectives to a property located outside of Battle Ground where Alana had been seen before she went missing. Investigators interviewed multiple people at the property who confirmed seeing her there around the time she was last heard from. A critical piece of information emerged when some witnesses stated they had last seen Alana leaving the property with a man named Luke A. Grant. Grant and Alana were known to each other through the local drug scene, and this connection made him a person of interest in the case. As the investigation continued, it became clear this was not a simple case of a person who had walked away.
A year after she was last seen, the Clark County Sheriff's Office shared the heartbreaking update that Alana was presumed to be deceased, and the focus of the investigation had shifted to finding her remains. This conclusion was reached after detectives uncovered disturbing information. A woman came forward and told investigators that Grant had called her in a panicked state in late August 2023. During the call, he allegedly said he had been using drugs with a woman, and when he awoke, she was dead. While he did not name Alana, he reportedly told the witness the woman's body was in the trunk of his car. Further investigation revealed that Grant had later taken his Honda Accord to a friend's house and asked for paint to paint the car. That vehicle was subsequently towed to a crushing yard in October 2023 and later shredded at a recycling facility.
The case of Alana Carroll is now a homicide investigation, though her remains have not yet been located. Luke A. Grant was identified as a suspect and is being investigated on suspicion of unlawful disposal of human remains; he has not been charged in connection with her death. He is currently incarcerated on charges unrelated to Alana's disappearance. The investigation continues as law enforcement actively searches for Alana, hoping to provide answers and a sense of closure to a family that has been tirelessly seeking them. The situation remains an open and painful chapter for her loved ones, who remember a vibrant woman and are left to grapple with the tragic circumstances surrounding her presumed death.
Last Seen: Aug 01, 2023
