A tense overnight search through rough country outside Kaw City ended with relief on Thursday, when a missing Kay County mother was found alive and her husband was taken into custody in connection with the case, authorities said. The discovery closed out an anxious hours-long hunt that drew deputies, tribal officers and volunteers into the wooded terrain around Rocky Ridge Road.
Sheriff Steve Kelley said 42-year-old Amanda Ingram Rogers was last seen at home at about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. Roughly an hour later, her family found her pickup abandoned on Rocky Ridge Road south of Coleman Road in the Kaw City area. Kelley described the surrounding search zone as heavily wooded and about one square mile in size, and said Rogers was treated as endangered because of the dangerous heat index. She was reported to be wearing a blue tie-dye T-shirt, red or pink shorts and flip-flops, according to Kay NewsCow.
Authorities later located Rogers alive and arrested her husband, identified in sheriff’s office records as Jason Lee Roger. The Kay County Sheriff’s Office reported that he was arrested in connection with the missing-person case and was charged with “attempting, conspiring or endeavoring to perform acts of violence involving serious bodily harm or death” and with domestic abuse in the presence of minors, as reported by KFOR.
How the search unfolded
Deputies, Ponca City police, Kaw Nation officers, Newkirk Fire, Kaw City Fire and numerous volunteer fire crews poured into the area to help scour the woods. Ground teams deployed tracking dogs and multiple drones while investigators used cell phone locations and mobile data to chase down leads across the one-square-mile search grid, the sheriff said.
Searchers worked through sweltering heat to cover the terrain. Authorities later confirmed Rogers had been found and removed from NCIC, according to Kay NewsCow.
Charges and next steps
Officials said Roger’s arrest is part of the broader investigation into Rogers’ disappearance. It was not immediately clear from the sheriff’s statement whether prosecutors had formally filed indictments or what, if any, bond had been set.
Authorities asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the Kay County Sheriff’s Office or dial 911, according to updates reported by KFOR. County officials also publicly thanked volunteer searchers for their help as investigators continue piecing together what led to Rogers’ disappearance.
Local impact
Neighbors and relatives who joined the search expressed relief that Rogers was found alive but said they are still waiting for answers about what happened. County authorities encouraged residents to watch for official updates as the case moves through the local court system.
