Newly released autopsy records and court filings have added stark new detail to the deaths of two Valley teenagers who vanished during a Memorial Day camping trip in the Tonto National Forest. The medical examiner found that 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud suffered gunshot wounds to the head and upper body, and investigators say she and 17-year-old Evan Clark were shot while camping in the Mount Ord area. A suspect, 31-year-old Thomas Brown, has been arrested and is facing two counts of first-degree murder.
What the autopsy reveals
The first page of Kjolsrud's medical examiner report, released after a judge partially sealed the file, lists gunshot wounds to the head and upper torso as the cause of death. The limited release followed a legal battle in which the teen’s mother sought to keep portions of the autopsy private, while media attorneys pushed for public access to records in a criminal case, according to The Arizona Republic.
Evidence that led to an arrest
Detectives say DNA collected from the scene matched Brown and was found inside the teens' SUV and on a pair of gloves that had one victim's blood on them. Investigators also recovered shell casings and found signs that the victims' bodies had been moved into nearby brush, evidence they say helped build the case, officials told Arizona's Family.
Arrest, indictment and court dates
Brown was arrested Oct. 2, 2025, and a grand jury later indicted him on two counts of first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in jail on a $2 million cash-only bond, with preliminary hearings and a trial currently set on the court calendar, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Community reaction and memorials
Pandora and Evan, both students at Arcadia High School, were remembered by friends and family through online fundraisers and makeshift memorials after their bodies were found last May. Family statements and tributes described the pair as outdoors lovers and strong students, and the arrest brought a complicated mix of grief and relief to the community, reporting found in PEOPLE.
Why the case took months to solve
Investigators say the remote Mount Ord terrain made the case especially difficult. There were no nearby trail cameras, phone data was spotty, and evidence had to be gathered on foot across rugged ground. Maricopa County officials have said that tips from other campers, combined with forensic DNA work, were crucial to identifying a suspect, as ABC15 reported.
Legal implications
Brown faces two counts of first-degree murder, which under Arizona law is a class 1 felony that can be punished by death or life in prison. Those penalties are laid out in the state code and guide how courts handle capital and life-sentence cases, per the Arizona Legislature in Arizona Revised Statutes section 13-1105.
