Colt Haynes & Molly Miller Missing Persons Case Update — Human Remains Found in Love County, Oklahoma After 13 Years
The long-running missing persons case involving Molly Miller and Colt Haynes has entered a critical new phase following the discovery of two sets of human remains during a coordinated multi-agency search operation in Love County, Oklahoma, authorities confirmed this week.
Miller and Haynes—both described by family members and the community as former Oklahoma student-athletes—have been missing since the summer of 2013. The newly recovered remains were located during an intensive search led by the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit.
Discovery of human remains during expanded search operation
Officials stated that the renewed search began on February 17 and continued into February 18 in a previously unsearched rural section of Love County. The newly identified area lies between Oswalt Road, Pike Road, and Long Hollow Road. During the operation, search teams located two separate sets of human remains.
The remains were collected and secured by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Response Team and transferred to the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for forensic processing and identification.
Authorities emphasized that, at this stage, the identities of the remains have not been confirmed. Investigators have also stated that it has not yet been determined whether the remains are directly connected to the disappearance of Miller and Haynes.
Law enforcement activity in the area was extensive and highly visible. News crews observed dozens of law enforcement vehicles, trailers, and off-road units traveling along Oswalt Road between Pike Road and Long Hollow Road. Police K-9 units, radar-based imaging technology, drones, and additional logistical vehicles were deployed as part of the large-scale operation.
Why the search area changed
According to investigators, the location where the remains were discovered had not been searched during previous efforts. Earlier search zones were established based on the information, witness accounts, and investigative leads available at the time.
As new information surfaced and cooperation from private landowners was obtained, authorities expanded the search parameters. This newly accessible property became a focal point of the current operation, ultimately leading to the recovery of the remains.
Officials confirmed that the investigation remains active and that additional follow-up searches may be conducted as forensic and investigative findings progress.
Background: the disappearance of Molly Miller and Colt Haynes
Miller, who was 17 at the time of her disappearance, and Haynes, then 21, were last known to be together during a late-night incident in 2013 that began as a vehicle pursuit.
The chase reportedly started in Wilson, Oklahoma when a vehicle driven by James Con Nipp sped past law enforcement officers. Officers pursued the vehicle along Oklahoma State Highway 76 and into Love County.
Authorities later lost sight of the vehicle near the intersection of Oswalt Road and Long Hollow Road. The car eventually crashed in a wooded area. Investigators determined that Nipp walked away from the scene and returned home.
Miller and Haynes remained behind at the crash site. According to investigators, the two contacted friends and attempted to arrange a ride. Their mobile phones remained active for several hours but stopped transmitting by the following morning. Neither has been seen or heard from since.
Criminal case connected to the chase
In the years following the disappearance, Nipp was convicted in connection with the vehicle chase. However, law enforcement officials have stated that he has consistently told investigators that he does not know what happened to Miller and Haynes after the crash and that he was unaware of their whereabouts.
Following the incident, missing persons reports were filed with the police departments in Lone Grove, Oklahoma and Wilson. Despite numerous tips received over the years, investigators have confirmed that many leads proved unreliable or could not be substantiated.
Multi-agency coordination and ongoing investigation
The latest search operation brought together multiple agencies, including the Chickasaw Nation Emergency Management, the FBI, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and Texas Search and Rescue.
Authorities confirmed that identifying the remains and determining both the cause and manner of death will require a detailed forensic examination process, which may take significant time. Family members of both Miller and Haynes have been notified of the discovery and will continue to receive investigative updates as information becomes available.
Public assistance and contact information
Investigators stress that the case of Molly Miller and Colt Haynes remains an open and active missing persons investigation. Anyone with information related to the disappearance is urged to contact the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department at (580) 436-1166, submit an anonymous tip through the agency’s confidential online reporting system, or contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit at OJS_mmu@bia.gov.
Law enforcement officials reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing all remaining leads in the case and to providing answers to the families and the Love County community as forensic and investigative work continues.
