In the early morning hours of June 25, 2026, a heart-wrenching situation began to unfold in the small city of Dardanelle, Arkansas, when six-week-old Laylynn Wilson and her 20-year-old mother, Ashlynn Bocksnick, were reported missing. The Dardanelle Police Department was initially called to a residence around 2:50 a.m. following a report of a person who was possibly suicidal. Upon their arrival, officers learned that Ashlynn Bocksnick had already left the home with her infant daughter.
This triggered an immediate and widespread alert to surrounding law enforcement agencies with a description of the vehicle Ashlynn was believed to be driving. The community's concern grew as the hours passed, with the well-being of the young mother and her newborn daughter at the forefront of everyone's minds.
A significant break in the case came at approximately 4:40 a.m. when officers located Ashlynn's unoccupied vehicle parked on a boat ramp at Veteran's Park, situated at the edge of the Arkansas River. The discovery of the abandoned car intensified the urgency of the search. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the area which showed a vehicle, later identified as Ashlynn's, arriving at the boat ramp around 4:00 a.m. The footage captured a figure believed to be Ashlynn walking toward the water. However, the video was not clear enough to determine if she was carrying her baby, Laylynn, at the time. This ambiguity left family, friends, and law enforcement with a painful and unanswered question about the infant's whereabouts.
In the days and weeks that followed, a massive search effort was launched, involving a multitude of agencies and volunteers. The Dardanelle Police Department, along with crews from Yell County, Conway County, and the Dardanelle Fire Department, scoured the area. The search of the Arkansas River was extensive, covering at least 85 miles from the Dardanelle Lock and Dam to the River Bridge in Little Rock. The operation utilized numerous resources, including boats, drones, and canine teams. Community members also joined the effort, offering their personal boats and even airplanes to aid in the search. The search was hampered by challenging conditions, as rising water levels and dangerous currents from the opening of the Dardanelle Dam, coupled with a significant amount of debris in the river, created hazardous obstacles for the search teams. Despite these difficulties, law enforcement officials have vowed to continue their search efforts until Ashlynn and Laylynn are brought home. The investigation into their disappearance remains active, with no foul play currently suspected. The case is a somber reminder of the fragility of life and has left a community holding onto hope for the safe return of a young mother and her baby girl.Last Seen: Jun 25, 2026
