Story by Donna Thornton

Judge Andrew Hairston granted a motion to continue the capital murder case against Loretta Kay Carr until Dec. 8. 

The woman is charged – along with her daughter Jessie Eden Kelly – with the murder of Mary Elizabeth Isbell. Isbell was reported missing to Hartselle police, having last been seen in November 2021. Hartselle police discovered she was living in DeKalb County at the time and the DCSO took over the case.

In June 2023, investigators with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office received information that led to the arrests of the two women.

On June 28, 2023, investigators and a search team found human remains in Little River Canyoon that were  indentified as Isbell. Carr and Kelly are accused of kidnapping Isbell and forcing her off a cliff into the canyon.

At the time of the arrests in the case an investigator said one of the women cooperated with them, leading to the discovery of Isbell’s body.

Kelly’s attorneys requested a continuance because of scheduling conflicts. The judge continued the case to the November plea docket and set the case for jury trial Dec. 8.

Kelly’s case is before Judge Jeremy Taylor. It is set for trial Sept. 8.