BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University is awarding Kay-Alana Turner her degree posthumously after her remains were found in April 2024.
She was given a degree from the College of Business at the commencement ceremony on Saturday, August 3 at 10 a.am. at the Montagne Center.
The Lamar Ambassadors have set up an endowment in Kay-Alana's name. If you would like to contribute, you can send a check to the Lamar University Foundation at P.O. Box 11500 Beaumont, TX 77710. Make the memo line to "Kay-Alana Turner"
If you would like to donate with a credit card you can visit Lamar's website Under the drop down menu, choose "Other", and in the comment box type "Kay-Alana Turner Scholarship".
Turner had been missing since March 10, 2023, when she fled from Harris County Deputies near Tomball during what appeared to be a mental health crisis.
On the morning of Turner's disappearance, Harris County deputies responded to a call in a Tomball neighborhood. Someone reported seeing a woman in her car who would not leave their driveway.
According to public documents, Turner tried to drive off after two responding deputies arrived, nearly running over the deputies in the process.
She was last seen driving into a wooded area.
Her parents previously told 12News that they felt that Harris County was treating their daughter like a fugitive, saying the sheriff's office refused to hand over any body or dash cam footage that could help provide them with answers.