KENOVA, W Va. — The search for a missing Ashland woman has come to a heartbreaking end after Kenova Police confirmed the recovery of a body from the Big Sandy River on Saturday afternoon, November 8, 2025.
Authorities identified the victim as 42-year-old Mompida Hay of Ashland, Kentucky. According to police, Hay is believed to have jumped from the Interstate 64 bridge on October 27. Rescue teams from Wayne County, Boyd County, and Kenova conducted extensive searches that night but were unable to locate her at the time.
Efforts to recover Hay continued in the days and weeks following the incident. On Saturday, two kayakers on the Big Sandy River reported seeing what appeared to be a body in the water. Kenova Police and rescue personnel from the Ceredo and Kenova Fire Departments responded immediately and recovered the body shortly after 4 p.m.
The recovery site was located more than a mile downstream from the I-64 bridge where the initial incident occurred.
Kenova Police have since turned the body over to the West Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office for positive identification and further investigation into the cause and manner of death.
This tragic discovery brings closure to a long and emotional search that involved multiple agencies and community volunteers. Friends and family of Mompida Hay are now mourning the loss of a beloved woman remembered for her gentle nature, kind heart, and deep love for those closest to her.
May Mompida Hay rest in eternal peace. Her memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her.