FORT PAYNE, AL – A woman from Alabama has been handed a life sentence after she and her daughter kidnapped and murdered a woman who was involved with the same man as the mother. The DeKalb County case, marked by a months-long investigation and a dramatic guilty plea, has brought a grim conclusion to a crime that shocked the small, rural community.

Loretta Carr, 47, learned her fate this week after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of 38-year-old Mary Beth Isbell. Carr was sentenced to life in prison for the killing and an additional 20 years for the kidnapping. The sentencing follows a two-year investigation that began with Isbell’s mysterious disappearance.

The saga unfolded on the evening of October 18, 2021, when prosecutors say Carr and her daughter, Jessie Kelly, 24, drove to Isbell’s home to confront her about a relationship with Carr’s romantic partner. What began as a confrontation soon escalated into violence—the pair attacked Isbell in her home, forcing her into their vehicle against her will.

They then transported their victim nearly 75 miles to the remote Wolf Creek Overlook at Little River Canyon National Park. According to investigators, Carr tied herself to the barrier at the overlook and forced Isbell over the edge, pushing her off the side of the canyon to her death.

Isbell’s disappearance initially left authorities with few clues. It was not until December 2021 that her ex-husband reported her missing, launching a long and difficult search effort. For nearly 18 months, her fate remained unknown, as investigators followed leads and attempted to unravel what had happened that October night.

A significant breakthrough arrived in June 2023, when investigators received information that led them to a remote area within the national park. On June 28, search teams discovered human remains that were later confirmed by authorities to belong to Isbell—just two days before what would have been her 39th birthday.

Carr and Kelly were both arrested and charged in 2023 as a result of the new evidence. Kelly, who had originally faced a capital murder charge, ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser count of murder. She received a 40-year prison sentence and had been expected to testify against her mother if the case proceeded to trial.

Officials described the case as one of senseless violence that has deeply affected Isbell’s surviving family members, including her mother, sisters, and son. The family has worked closely with investigators throughout the case, offering both support and crucial information as the case developed.

Prosecutors emphasized that the brutal nature of the crime and the pain it caused Isbell’s family underscored the severity of the sentences handed down to both Carr and Kelly. Community members have since rallied around the Isbell family, offering condolences and support as they navigate the aftermath of the tragedy.

The convictions bring a measure of closure to the case, though the scars remain for those closest to the victim. Authorities have urged the public to remember Isbell and to support her family as they continue to grieve her loss.

Both Carr and Kelly remain in state custody, with no possibility of parole in sight, according to court officials.