Indiana State Police continue their investigation involving the death of a Jackson County woman who was initially reported as missing.

An investigation began on Sept. 18 when family of 37-year-old Nikki Reed, of Seymour, reported that they had not been able to contact her since the previous day. Family members told police that Reed had made a trip to Pennsylvania to pick up her boyfriend, 39-year-old Kevin Bell. She was last heard from on Saturday while driving back to Indiana with Bell.

Indiana State Police say that on Sept. 20, Bell made his way to the roadway, in the 8600 block of east US 50 in Jennings County. According to ISP reports, Bell told investigators that the SUV he was driving had went off the road three days earlier, traveling down an embankment and crashing into a tree, head-on. The crash purportedly killed Reed on impact. Bell reportedly told investigators that he was trapped in the vehicle and injured, causing his delay in getting help.

Sgt. Wheeles says the fact that this originated as a missing person case, along with the circumstances of the crash have ISP investigating the case “thoroughly.” He says that a part of that investigation included serving a search warrant on the vehicle. Wheeles went on to say that Bell “may have been less than truthful with statements he originally made to 9-1-1 operators, as well as to the original responding troopers.” ISP stress that this investigation is ongoing and will be turned over to the prosecutors for review for possible charges against Bell.

Wheeles says that he could not say when the investigation will be complete.