Teenagers found dead in Arizona forest, police launches investigation into 'suspicious' deaths

Two teenagers have been found shot dead in a remote part of the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, just days after their summer holidays began. Police are investigating their deaths as “suspicious”.

The bodies of Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, and Evan Clark, 17, were discovered on the morning of May 27, near Mount Ord, a spot the two friends often watched sunsets at. They had both suffered fatal gunshot wounds, the Maricopa county sheriff’s office said, quoted by the New York Post.

“At this time, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are being treated as suspicious,” said Sgt Joaquin Enriquez, speaking to Fox 10 Phoenix.

The Maricopa county medical examiner has since confirmed both deaths as homicides, with the date of death listed as 26 May.

Kjolsrud and Clark were students at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, around 64 miles southwest of the national forest. The tragic news has shaken the local community and left friends and family grieving the loss of two young lives.

“You just cherish all the memories and the laughs,” said Iara Rosales, Clark’s coworker. “His life was cut very short, and so was Pandora’s. They were very young, and it was just so sudden and a tragedy that you wouldn’t even imagine.”

Friends of the teens created a makeshift memorial at their favourite spot near Mount Ord, laying flowers and tributes to the pair. Online fundraisers have also been set up to help their families cover costs for their celebrations of life.

Kjolsrud was remembered by loved ones for her “vivacious personality” and love for the outdoors.

“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,” family friend Kathryn Leonard wrote on GoFundMe. “The outdoors is where she truly felt at home. She loved camping, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking with friends and family.”

Her mother, Simone Kjolsrud, posted a heartbreaking message on Facebook, “Rest in peace my beautiful girl,” adding that her heart was shattered into a million pieces.

Clark’s mother, Sandra Malibu Sweeney, described her son as an “old soul” with a gentle heart.

“Evan Clark was my only child and my beloved son,” she wrote. “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.”

The tragedy has left hikers and locals shaken, with concerns being raised about safety in the national forest.

“If there’s something going on in the area. I’m here with my child. I’d like to know if we’re safe,” one resident told Fox 10.

“Obviously, respecting the families, but I would want to know how we can all be safe.”