‘Someone under her car’: Arkansas police confirm Jessica Paige Kemp called 911 the night before she disappeared

Jessica Paige Kemp’s mysterious disappearance has taken a new turn after the Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Kemp placed a 911 call before she vanished, reporting someone or “something” under her vehicle at a remote camping site near Lake Ashbaugh.

The information, shared in a May 2025 social media post from the sheriff’s office, has ignited widespread scrutiny over how Arkansas authorities have managed the case.

What happened on May 5, 2025?

According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Kemp called 911 on May 5 while camping at a primitive site within the Wildlife Management Area in Northwest Greene County. When deputies arrived, they found no one under or inside her vehicle.

A crisis-intervention-trained deputy spoke with Kemp and determined she did not meet the legal threshold for a mental health hold under Arkansas law. She did, however, admit she stopped taking prescription medication for her mental health. She was not taken into custody and agreed to follow up with her doctor. The deputy’s encounter with Kemp marked the last confirmed sighting of her.

Delayed missing persons report raises eyebrows

Kemp was not reported missing by her family until May 14, nine days after her contact with police. The report was filed with the Jonesboro Police Department, which eventually notified Greene County deputies, prompting a formal investigation at the campsite. According to the department’s post, over 200 man-hours have been invested in searching for Kemp.

Investigators noted that Kemp had a known history of drug addiction and often camped alone in remote locations without regular contact with her family. No signs of foul play were found at the site. “It is normal for Kemp to camp in remote locations just as she was at Lake Ashbaugh,” the Greene County Sheriff’s Office stated.

Public concern and comparisons to past cases

Despite assurances from local authorities, Kemp’s case has drawn significant attention and skepticism, particularly due to parallels with past Arkansas disappearances, such as that of Ebby Steppach. Steppach went missing in 2015 after expressing fear for her safety. Her body was found in a park storm drain three years later, after repeated reports to police had gone largely uninvestigated.

Similarly, Kemp’s 911 call suggesting someone may have been stalking her and the decision not to detain her under mental health protocols have fueled criticism. Advocates argue the system continues to fail vulnerable women, especially those with mental health or substance use issues.

Social media has been ablaze with questions about the timeline of Kemp’s disappearance, especially the nine-day delay between her last police contact and the missing persons report. Many argue that the sheriff’s office’s emphasis on Kemp’s addiction history and lifestyle detracts from the urgency her case demands.

Where the case stands

As of June 2, 2025, Kemp remains missing. Law enforcement officials continue to review data dumps from her devices and surrounding cell towers in the hopes of uncovering her whereabouts. No new leads have been shared publicly. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Greene County Sheriff’s Office or the Jonesboro Police Department.