MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

Kassanndra Cantrell: Missing pregnant woman's body found in Washington, ex-lover arrested on suspicion of murder

Ex-boyfriend Colin Patrick Dudley, 37, was arrested at his Tacoma residence and was booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of murder

PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON: Authorities have revealed that a body believed to be that of Kassanndra Cantrell was found Tuesday almost a month after the pregnant woman went missing.

Meanwhile, detectives also arrested the prime suspect in the murder. "Utilizing GPS data obtained from Cantrell’s ex-boyfriend’s truck, this morning our detectives conducted a detailed ground search of the areas along Chambers Creek Road W. in University Place," Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer said in a statement. "At approximately 2:00 p.m. our detectives found a set of human remains that were wrapped and disposed of over a steep hillside along Chambers Creek. Search & Rescue Team members from our department and the Tacoma Police Department performed a high-angle-ropes operation to recover the remains, which were identified at the scene as Kassanndra Cantrell."

Colin Patrick Dudley, 37, was arrested at his Tacoma residence without incident and was booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of murder, according to a spokesman for the sheriff's office. However, it was unclear if bond had been set in Dudley's case. Nonetheless, investigators were satisfied they were able to solve the case. "It was a lot of work . . . . and we’re happy that there’s resolution for the family," Troyer added. "But we're also sad for the family."

33-year-old Cantrell went missing on the morning of August 25, after she left her family's Parkland residence. Her remains were reportedly found on a steep hillside along Chambers Creek Road in University Place. Marie Smith, Cantrell's mother, told authorities her daughter had a doctor's appointment for her first ultrasound and was also planning to go grocery shopping on the fateful day. However, Smith noted Kassanndra didn't have any cash on her and her EBT car had also not shown any activity.

On September 1, detectives were seen entering and exiting the home of Cantrell's former boyfriend as they scoured it for evidence. Troyer revealed Tuesday that investigators had obtained surveillance footage showing the suspect dropping off the victim's white Mazda car, which was later found near the Tacoma Dome. “We are treating this as a homicide investigation until something tells us differently,” Troyer said earlier this month. At the time, Troyer said the person of interest was son "that they want to eliminate and clear or name him as a suspect."

Following the discovery of Cantrell's white Mazda on the other end of town, her mother said she didn't believe Cantrell ever went there. “That is not a place that she would ever be. It’s just not, there’s no reason for her to be there. It’s not a safe area, she wouldn’t be there,” Smith said.

She didn't believe her daughter had simply packed up and left either. “She would have taken her dogs,” Smith said. “If she took nothing else, she would have taken her darn dogs because they’re her babies.” Earlier this month, Smith told Q13 how much she missed her daughter. “Every sound, I imagine that I hear her, or a door, when I doze I have these little snippets of dreams and for a second I think everything is okay that everything got fixed but then I wake up and I realize that was a dream,” the heartbroken mother said. “Being awake is a nightmare. All I want to do is dream, but I can’t sleep.”

If you or anyone you know have any related information on this case, you are urged to contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department immediately.