Case overview
Hailey Dunn was 13 years old when she was last seen alive in Colorado City, Texas, on December 27, 2010. Her remains were discovered in March 2013, approximately 25 miles from her home, in a remote area of Scurry County. No one has been charged with her murder, and the case remains open.
The last known day
Hailey Dunn lived with her mother, Billie Jean Dunn, and her mother’s boyfriend, Shawn Adkins, in Colorado City, a small town in West Texas. On December 27, 2010, Hailey stayed home while her mother worked an overnight shift at a local motel. Billie Dunn said Hailey planned to walk to a friend’s house that afternoon and spend the night.
Hailey never arrived. Her friend’s family told investigators they had not seen her. When Billie Dunn returned home the next day and could not locate her daughter, she reported Hailey missing on December 28, 2010.
The timeline of Hailey’s final hours became one of the most contested aspects of the investigation. Investigators attempted to reconstruct her movements, but accounts from those closest to her raised more questions than clarity.
Early investigative focus
Law enforcement quickly centered attention on the household where Hailey was last seen. Both Billie Dunn and Shawn Adkins were interviewed multiple times. Adkins, who had a prior conviction for indecency with a child, became a primary person of interest.
Adkins told police he had been at work the day Hailey disappeared, but inconsistencies emerged. Investigators identified gaps in his timeline and questioned his alibi. He later failed a polygraph examination, though polygraph results are not admissible in court.
Billie Dunn also faced scrutiny. Investigators noted discrepancies in her statements and raised concerns about her cooperation. Both she and Adkins denied involvement in Hailey’s disappearance.
Search efforts expanded across West Texas. Volunteers, law enforcement agencies, and search-and-rescue teams combed rural areas, abandoned buildings, and fields. The FBI joined the investigation, and the case drew widespread attention.
Discovery of remains
On March 16, 2013, more than two years after Hailey was last seen, a worker surveying a remote area near Lake J.B. Thomas in Scurry County discovered human remains. The site was approximately 25 miles from Colorado City, in a desolate stretch of land near a highway.
Forensic analysis confirmed the remains were those of Hailey Dunn. The condition of the remains and the length of time they had been exposed made determining a cause of death difficult. The Scurry County medical examiner classified the manner of death as homicide, but no specific cause was listed in the official autopsy report.
The location became a focal point for investigators. The area was accessible by vehicle, and the placement of the remains suggested they had been transported and left intentionally. Investigators searched the surrounding area for evidence, but exposure to weather and wildlife had degraded much of what might have been recovered.
Continued scrutiny of key figures
After the discovery of Hailey’s remains, investigative attention returned to Shawn Adkins. Authorities named him as the primary suspect, though no arrest was made. Adkins continued to deny any involvement in Hailey’s death.
In 2013, Texas Rangers and the FBI executed search warrants related to the case. Investigators reviewed evidence collected from the Dunn home, vehicles associated with Adkins, and other locations. Despite these efforts, no charges were filed.
Billie Dunn publicly maintained that she believed Adkins was responsible for her daughter’s death. The two ended their relationship after Hailey’s remains were found. Dunn cooperated with media interviews and continued to call for accountability.
Adkins has not been charged with any crime related to Hailey’s disappearance or death. He has declined most media requests and has not made public statements in recent years.
Evidence and unresolved questions
The case has been shaped by what investigators found and what they could not confirm. Forensic analysis of the remains was limited by the condition of the body and the time that had passed. No physical evidence definitively linking a suspect to the crime scene has been made public.
Investigators have not disclosed whether DNA, fibers, or other trace evidence was recovered from the site where Hailey’s remains were discovered. The lack of a confirmed cause of death has complicated efforts to build a prosecutable case.
The timeline of Hailey’s final day remains unclear. Investigators have not confirmed where she was between the time she was last seen at home and when she was reported missing. Witness statements from that period have been inconsistent, and no surveillance footage or independent corroboration has been made public.
The case has also been marked by public tension between law enforcement and the victim’s family. Billie Dunn has criticized the pace of the investigation and has called for more transparency. Investigators have declined to release certain details, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Ongoing investigation
The murder of Hailey Dunn remains an open case with the Texas Rangers and the Scurry County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators continue to review evidence and follow leads. Authorities have stated that the case is active and that they are working to bring charges.
No arrests have been made. Shawn Adkins remains the only publicly named suspect, and he has not been charged. The case has seen periods of renewed attention, particularly around anniversaries of Hailey’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains.
Hailey’s family has maintained public efforts to keep the case visible. Vigils, memorial events, and social media campaigns have continued over the years. Billie Dunn has remained vocal in media interviews, advocating for justice and accountability.
The lack of resolution has left fundamental questions unanswered: what happened to Hailey Dunn in the hours after she was last seen, how she died, and who was responsible. The case remains one of West Texas’s most closely watched unsolved homicides.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “Vanished: Hailey Dunn” (Investigation Discovery)
- Documentary: “Disappeared: The Girl in the Blue Mascara” (Investigation Discovery)
- Podcast: “True Crime Garage” (Stitcher)
