Authorities are investigating the deaths of two Arizona teenagers found in Tonto National Forest as suspicious homicides. The bodies of 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud and 17-year-old Evan Clark were discovered near Mount Ord on the morning of May 27, just a day after their recorded date of death. The teens had reportedly gone camping over the Memorial Day weekend and are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner confirmed their deaths as homicides, and police are now working closely with other agencies to determine what happened. “We are focused on a careful, thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victims and their loved ones,” officials said, urging patience as the process unfolds.
GoFundMe pages have been launched to support both families. Evan’s mother, Sandra Malibu Sweeney, shared a heartfelt tribute, describing her son as witty, compassionate, and full of promise. “He was worthy of a long life,” she wrote, recalling the Mother’s Day letter he had given her just weeks earlier.
Pandora’s page remembered her love for animals, music, and the outdoors. She was described as a kind soul with a contagious smile who had a gift for making others feel special. Her family highlighted her passions—playing violin and guitar, hiking, and kayaking—and mourned the loss of a young life taken too soon.
