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Suspect arrested, charged in shooting deaths of 2 teens found dead months ago in Arizona wilderness
By Sophia Compton
Published October 04, 2025
Authorities in Arizona have arrested and charged a man in the shooting deaths of two teenagers found in a remote area earlier this year.
Thomas Brown, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of high school students Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
"Murder is one of the most heinous crimes that can be brought on a person and their family," Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Capt. David Lee said at a press conference Friday. "In a way, it's the ultimate theft."
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Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, and Evan Clark, 17, were found dead inside Tonto National Forest May 27, 2025. (GoFundMe)
The teenagers were found dead May 27 near Mount Ord in the Tonto National Forest, north of Mesa, after law enforcement received a report that they had not returned from a camping trip.
"The complainant advised [the Gila County Sheriff's Office] that her daughter was out camping with friends, and her last known location was on Mount Ord," Lee said. "The complainant also provided pictures for us of her daughter's camping trip, which she had received."
In the weeks following the discovery, detectives received numerous tips, including from other campers who said they saw a man behaving "very strangely."
When questioned, Brown allegedly told investigators he had been camping on Mount Ord with his wife and said he had also been flying a drone and had encountered a young male and female matching the victims’ description.
Thomas Brown, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of high school students Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office )
However, investigators allege Brown’s account was inconsistent with the evidence they had collected.
"Thomas Brown provided false and misleading information regarding his involvement," Lee said.
Brown was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County jail. He did not turn himself in voluntarily, and there is no evidence suggesting that Brown knew either victim before the killings, according to Lee.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Capt. David Lee speaks at a press conference Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office )
"They were, as far as we know, complete strangers," Lee said.
At Friday’s news conference, Pandora Kjolsrud’s mother, Simone Kjolsrud, described her daughter as "a beautiful, brilliant light in this world."
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"We are all devastated, and we miss her every day," Simone Kjolsrud said. "All of life's beauty feels less bright without her here, but the light and love and beauty she gave us will be in our hearts forever. And the darkness that she encountered on that day, when she met her killer, will not define her life."
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/suspect-arrested-charged-shooting-deaths-2-teens-found-dead-months-ago-arizona-wilderness