Heather Kelley Missing Person Case

Jan 05, 2023

Jan 23, 2023

Heather

Kelley

38

35

68 inches

125 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

On the evening of December 10, 2022, 35-year-old Heather Mae Kelley, a mother of eight from Portage, Michigan, informed her family that she was heading out to pick up an acquaintance in downtown Kalamazoo. Later that night, at approximately 10:20 p.m., she spoke to her children by phone, telling them she would be home soon. This was the last time her family would ever hear from her. Heather never returned home that night, sparking immediate concern among her loved ones. The following day, her vehicle was discovered abandoned and engulfed in flames in Comstock Township, not far from where she was last seen. The discovery of her burned-out truck marked a grim turning point, shifting a missing person's report into a case with strong suspicions of foul play. The investigation into Heather's disappearance quickly intensified as authorities uncovered disturbing evidence. Inside her scorched vehicle, investigators found her blood on the front and back seats, indicating a violent crime had occurred. Nearby, some of her clothing was also recovered. Based on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the state of her vehicle, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office announced in February 2023 that they were treating the case as a homicide. A person of interest was soon identified: Heather's boyfriend, Carlos Watts Jr. At the time of her disappearance, Watts was residing at a halfway house after a previous federal conviction. Cellphone data reportedly placed him with Heather before she vanished and tracked his movements away from where her car was later found. In a significant development, Carlos Watts Jr. was charged with open murder in connection with Heather's death in January 2024. Prosecutors believe he was involved in her murder just hours before he escaped from the halfway house two days after she went missing. Authorities allege that Watts cut off his ankle monitor with a pair of scissors and fled, only to be apprehended a short time later in Battle Creek. His DNA was reportedly found on clothing discovered near Heather's burned vehicle. Despite these charges, Heather Kelley's body has not been found. The case is a heart-wrenching mystery that has left a family devastated and a community seeking answers. The investigation continues, with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, working to bring closure to her loved ones.

Dec 10, 2022

Kalamazoo

Michigan

Kalamazoo County

49001

No

122460

Portage Police Department

Portage

Michigan

Kalamazoo County

49024

7810 Shaver Road, Michigan

2693294567

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.portagemi.gov/324/Police-Division

22-35894

2022-12-11

Portage Police Department

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

07/19/2026