Bodies of missing couple found in wrecked vehicle

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

INEZ — The bodies of two Boyd County residents who were last seen in Martin County and reported missing in August were found in a wrecked vehicle Friday. According to a press release, the Boyd County Coroner’s Office was dispatched to Rt. 168, just outside of Catlettsburg, in reference to a single-vehicle accident on Oct. 2.“Upon arrival on the scene, Deputy Coroner Dr. R. Beadle spoke with responders on the scene and was advised the vehicle in question may have multiple fatalities,” the release said. The vehicle was discovered by a person in the area that happened to look over the embankment, the release said.“ During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle contained two decedents and that it had occurred several weeks prior to anyone discovering the accident,” the release said. The bodies were identified as those of Laura Carter Broughton, 40, and Donald Griffith, 58, both of Ashland, the release said. “Both decedents had been reported as missing and entered into NCIC on or about Aug. 27 by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police Post 9,” the press release said. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that Broughton and Griffith were last seen in Martin County in the early morning hours of Aug. 27 and advised that they were en route to Ashland, the release said. “Since that time, family has been searching for the decedents through social media and news outlets,” the release said. Other agencies assisting at the scene include the Boyd County Sheriff’s Office, the England Hill Fire Department, Boyd County EMS, McGuire’s Towing & Recovery, the Martin County Coroner’s Office, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland, Boyd County and Catlettsburg Emergency Management and Boyd County Coroner Mark Hammond.