Kentucky Teen's Drowning Death Ruled Accidental, Sparking Outcry

A Kentucky grand jury has ruled the death of 19-year-old Marly Kinney, who disappeared from a rented boat on Grayson Lake and was later found drowned, as an accidental drowning. The decision has led to an outcry from Kinney's loved ones who question the circumstances surrounding her death.

Kinney's body was recovered on June 28, three days after she vanished on June 25 while boating with approximately ten friends. According to her sister, Willow VanHoose, Kinney and several friends briefly jumped off the boat to swim. When the boat resumed its course, it was discovered that Kinney was no longer aboard.

Authorities stated that the group had been consuming alcohol throughout the day. Kinney's autopsy revealed a postmortem blood alcohol concentration of 0.268 percent, significantly exceeding the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent in the United States. Investigators found no signs of struggle or traumatic injury on her body. The friends on the boat cooperated with the investigation and assisted in the search efforts.

Despite the grand jury's ruling, Kinney's best friend, Baylie Hanshaw, expressed her disbelief on social media. "I am not ready to look at everything that happened that night and simply call it an accident," Hanshaw wrote, citing lingering questions about how long it took for the group to realize Kinney was missing. She questioned if Kinney could have been found sooner and what she might have experienced alone in the water.

VanHoose also shared her haunting thoughts about the incident, piecing together Kinney's last moments through conversations with friends. She recounted being told that it took some time before the group realized Kinney was absent, and that attempts to circle back and search for her were made. VanHoose stated that her sister was fit and a strong swimmer, and that friends indicated she was not so intoxicated as to be unable to swim or to have blacked out.

Two photographs taken shortly before Kinney's disappearance show her on a rock formation known locally as 'Sex Rock,' jumping into the water with friends. One photo, dated December 23, 2025, due to a camera setting error, shows Kinney in a bikini. Another photo, taken around 2:19 p.m. by a family on a nearby boat, also depicts Kinney on 'Sex Rock.' Officials believe Kinney disappeared between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

By 4:30 p.m. on June 25, the boat had returned to the marina, and passengers alerted emergency services to Kinney's disappearance.

While no charges were filed in connection with Kinney's death, two individuals on the boat, Ryan Blanke, 21, and Isabelle Addis, 19, face misdemeanor charges for allegedly providing alcohol to a minor. These charges are not related to Kinney's death. Additionally, the boat's driver, Cameron Conley, 23, was charged with operating a boat under the influence. Court records indicate Conley admitted to consuming alcohol and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.137. He pleaded guilty and was fined $25 plus court costs.

Blanke and Addis are scheduled for their next court appearance on September 30. In a statement following the grand jury's decision, Carter County Commonwealth’s Attorney Barry Bradley extended condolences to Kinney's family and friends, expressing hope that the investigation's conclusion would provide clarity and closure.