Human remains found on property linked to Anna Manning's 1992 disappearance after husband's arrest
The Spring Valley Road property in Danville had previously been searched in 2016 but nothing was found at the time
For more than three decades, the disappearance of Anna Manning remained a mystery in Kentucky. Now, investigators say they may be closer than ever to finding answers.
Human remains have been discovered on a property connected to Anna's case, according to local outlet WKYT, marking a significant development in a disappearance that dates back to 1992.
The remains were recovered from a site in Boyle County and will be transported to a forensic laboratory for examination and formal identification.
The Boyle County Sheriff's Office confirmed that no official identification will be made until the investigation is complete and next of kin have been formally notified.
Husband and mother-in-law arrested
The discovery came just days after investigators arrested Anna's husband, Anthony Manning, and his mother, Barbara Manning, in connection with the case.
On 19 May 2026, Detective Ray of the Boyle County Sheriff's Office secured indictments against both individuals, according to a Facebook statement from the sheriff's office confirmed by PEOPLE through official documents.
Anthony has been charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
Barbara faces charges of complicity to murder, complicity to tampering with physical evidence, and complicity to abuse of a corpse. Both are currently held at the Boyle County Detention Centre on $2 million cash bonds.
A cold case spanning more than 30 years
The arrests have drawn renewed attention to a case that began in November 1992, when Anna vanished at just 23 years old.
She was last seen on 19 November 1992, in Junction City, Kentucky, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
Despite her disappearance occurring in 1992, Anna was not officially reported missing until 25 February 1994.
Over the years, investigators repeatedly turned their attention to a property on Spring Valley Road in Danville.
Following the recent arrests, authorities searched the site at 148 Spring Valley Road, with the Boyle County Sheriff's Department, Emergency Management, and public works crews all attending the scene.
Public works crews arrived with an excavator, and several holes were visible across the more than five-acre property where digging had taken place.
The same property had previously been searched in 2016 following the execution of a warrant, though nothing was uncovered at the time.
A history of violence before the disappearance
The case file also contains details of a troubling earlier incident involving Anna and Anthony before her disappearance.
A 1995 newspaper article noted that Anthony had turned himself in after Anna signed a kidnapping warrant against him.
He allegedly arrived at his estranged wife's flat with their daughter, handcuffed Anna, and led her out through a back door before she managed to escape to a neighbour's home and contact police, according to the NamUs database. Anthony subsequently served 192 days in gaol in connection with that incident.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the remains discovered belong to Anna. The Boyle County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains ongoing and encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward and contact investigators.
