Two teens found dead in remote US national forest as family release heartbreaking statement
The bodies of two teenagers have been discovered in a remote US national park as cops confirm they are treating the deaths as suspicious.
The corpses of 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark, both of Arizona, were tragically found in the Tonto National Forest close to Mount Ord - roughly an hour-and-a-half drive from Phoenix - on Tuesday morning (May 27).
The pair are understood to have succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds having left for a Memorial Day weekend camping trip - with Maricopa County Medical Examiner listing the date of their deaths as being last Monday (May 26), while also confirming them as homicides.
GoFundMe pages have been set up to support their parents as they grieve, with Evan's mom Sandra Malibu Sweeney expressing her gratitude for the outpouring of support she has received having lost 'my only child and my beloved son'.
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"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."
While the GoFundMe page set up for Pandora described her as someone who adored animals and had a 'special bond with her two little dogs and never failed to stop and greet any dog she passed on her hikes and neighborhood walks'.
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."
Meanwhile, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement to ABC 15 Arizona on Friday, that the deaths of Evan and Pandora were being treated as suspicious.
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."
Joe Yates