Kayla Wright: Body of Vermont woman who was shot dead found dumped inside container by river

TROY, VERMONT: A Vermont woman, who was reported missing on February 3 was found shot to death just a few days later, according to Vermont State police.

Vermont State Police received a call on February 6 around 1 pm of a human body found inside a large container on a sand bar in the Missisquoi River near Big Falls of Missiquoi State Park in Troy.

On February 7 the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington conducted an autopsy. It confirmed the identity of the body as 29-year-old Kayla Wright, a Derby resident who was last seen in Troy on February 2. 

How did Kayla Wright die? 

Authorities stated that Wright's cause of death was a homicide and verified that she had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Further investigations are still going on.

Although no arrests have been made, police maintain that the incident was isolated and that there are now no dangers to the public.

Authorities conducted interviews with potential witnesses to Wright's death and executed a search warrant at a residence on Troy's Vermont Route 100 to gather further information.

The Newport Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, and the federal Homeland Security Investigations are assisting Vermont State Police in the case.

Police have additionally asked anyone with information to call investigators at the Derby Barracks at tel:802-334-8881. 

Friends remember Kayla Wright

According to Fox 44, Sara Davis, one of Wright’s best friends, says she was a light and brought happiness to so many.

“She was so sweet. When it came down to it, she really cared about her family so much, which is why we knew something was wrong so quickly, because of the fact that – she ignored people,” Davis said with a light laugh. “But she never ignored her family, and she never ignored me.”

She added, "Everyone kind of referred to us as a duo because we never went out without the other person." 

Davis, 22, pointed out that there was an age gap in their friendship, but it certainly never bothered them. 

"People never really understood why we were friends, and a lot of the time they would talk badly,” said Davis. But Davis says she and Wright would protect each other.

"She definitely had a lot of friends, in the way of like, she knew everybody. She very quickly got accepted into the Big Sky community, people were really fond of her, they loved her quirky attitude,” said Davis.