Her last text said she was okay and heading to another party. The house she was in was on fire by the time the owner returned. No one has ever been charged.
A June Night in Berea
Brookelyn Farthing was 18 years old, from Madison County, Kentucky — quiet, known to her family as Brooke. On the evening of June 21, 2013, she and her younger sister, a cousin, and some friends drove out to a party off Red Lick Road near Berea. The sisters had earlier attended their grandfather's 70th birthday party, and it would be the last time the family would all be together.
As the evening wore on, Brookelyn's sister and cousin decided to head home. Brookelyn stayed behind — she had a friend at the party who she thought could give her a ride. That arrangement fell apart after the two got into an argument, leaving Brookelyn stranded.
Texts in the Early Morning Hours
From roughly midnight onward, Brookelyn sent a series of text messages trying to find a way home. At some point she texted that she needed a ride "because I'm scared." She reached out to her ex-fiancé, who couldn't leave until his work shift ended in the early morning.
At 5:30 a.m., a final text went out from her phone: "Never mind, I'm okay. I'm going to a party in Rockcastle County." The message struck investigators as odd — it was sent after hours of trying to get home, at a time of morning when most parties would have ended, with no friends present to corroborate the change of plans. The phone pinged a cell tower in nearby Blue Lick, approximately 30 miles away. It has never been turned on again.
A House Fire, and Missing Boots
The owner of the home on Dillon Court had briefly left that morning to move horses to a nearby field. By his account, Brookelyn was sitting on the couch smoking when he left. When he returned around 7:00 a.m., the house was on fire.
Brookelyn was gone. Her cowboy boots, purse, and some clothing remained inside the burning house. Her phone was the only item missing. The fire had started near the couch, burning a hole through the floor beneath it, but was contained before destroying the structure. Investigators noted that utilities to the home had been turned off for weeks — there was no electricity in the building at all.
A Massive Search, No Results
In the days and weeks that followed, hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement personnel covered more than 16,000 acres across three counties. Cadaver dogs worked the property and surrounding land. Divers searched nearby bodies of water. Authorities requested call records from her carrier and traced the final cell tower ping. No physical trace of Brookelyn was found anywhere.
Kentucky State Police have maintained that criminal involvement is suspected. Investigators have followed numerous leads over the years, including a person of interest identified through public tip campaigns. No one has ever been arrested.
Twelve Years Without Answers
Brookelyn's family has continued advocating publicly for her case since 2013. A reward fund has grown to $14,000, maintained through fundraisers and donations, offered for information leading to her return or the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for her disappearance. Her grandfather, Papaw Kenny, died not long after she went missing, never learning what happened to her.
Kentucky State Police in Richmond have repeatedly stated the case remains active, not cold. "Somebody knows what happened to Brookelyn Farthing the night of her disappearance," a trooper told local media at the ten-year anniversary. "We are waiting for that person to call."
If you have any information about Brookelyn Farthing's disappearance, you're encouraged to contact Kentucky State Police at 859-623-2404 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-5555.
Sources
Brookelyn Farthing — The Charley Project
Find Brooke Farthing — Official Family Site
Community marks ten years since Brookelyn Farthing's disappearance — LEX18