News & Current Events
Two Arizona Teens Found Fatally Shot In Remote Forest, Sparking Homicide Investigation
Two adolescents’ bodies were found in a secluded US national park, and police say they are investigating the murders as suspicious.
Tragically, on Tuesday morning (May 27), the bodies of 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark, both of Arizona, were discovered in the Tonto National Forest near Mount Ord, about an hour and a half’s drive from Phoenix.
The two are believed to have died from gunshot wounds after departing for a camping vacation over the Memorial Day weekend; the Maricopa County Medical Examiner confirmed their deaths as homicides and listed their dates of death as last Monday, May 26.
To help their parents through their grief, GoFundMe sites have been established. Sandra Malibu Sweeney, Evan’s mother, has expressed her thanks for the overwhelming support she has gotten after losing “my only child and my beloved son.”
“This last week Evan was taken from me, and my level of grief feels insurmountable. I find myself at a complete loss to imagine a life without him. It is a small comfort to share some things about this boy who was on his way to becoming a wonderful man,” her heartbreaking statement read in part on the GoFundMe page.
“Evan wasn’t a typical teenager. He was funny, bright, kind and entrepreneurial. He was an old soul who was sensitive and loving. Evan wrote me letters, the last of which he gave me on Mother’s Day that was so touching it made me both laugh and cry. He was special. He deserved a long life.”
She concluded her statement by citing a Buddhist verse of the Dhammapada: “Let go of the past, let go of the future, let go of the present, and cross to the far shore. With the mind and body liberated, you shall suffer no more.”
She had a “special bond with her two little dogs and never failed to stop and greet any dog she passed on her hikes and neighbourhood walks,” according to the GoFundMe page created for Pandora, who loved animals.
It read in part: “Pandora Kjolsrud was just 18 years old when her life was violently taken on May 26th, 2025. She had a vivacious personality with an infectious smile that brought joy to so many.”
“She was a beautiful human being and a bright light in this world who loved every single person she met and had a unique ability to make every person feel special.”
“She loved music in all of its forms and enjoyed playing violin, cello and guitar. The outdoors is where she truly felt at home. She loved camping, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking with friends and family.”
In the meanwhile, Evan and Pandora’s deaths were being investigated as suspicious, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office stated in a statement to ABC 15 Arizona on Friday.
They said, “At this time, our focus is on conducting a comprehensive and meticulous investigation to ensure justice for the victims and their loved ones.”
“We are coordinating closely with our law enforcement partners and ask for patience and respect for the investigative process as we work through the facts.”
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