The Chattanooga Police Department says the body of a young woman last reported missing was found Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of a Lookout Valley motel, and a 40-year-old man is now jailed on charges tied to how the body was handled.
What police have released
Officers were called to the 100 block of Patten Chapel Road about 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, where they located the body of 22-year-old Elysia Kinsella. Kinsella had been reported missing the previous week, according to Chattanooga Police.
Police arrested 40-year-old Donte Taylor, who investigators say admitted to leaving Kinsella’s body in the motel parking lot. The death is being investigated and the cause has not yet been determined.
Video evidence and charges
According to an affidavit filed with the investigation, security footage shows a man carrying what appeared to be a body wrapped in blankets from room 223, moving the body down stairs and attempting to place it in a car trunk. After failing to secure the body in the trunk, the affidavit states the man laid the body in the parking lot and ran over it with his vehicle before leaving the scene.
"Taylor dragged the body down the steps and made multiple attempts to load the body into the trunk of his vehicle. After multiple failed attempts, he laid the victim down in the parking lot and got back into his vehicle."
Investigators later located and arrested Taylor around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday. He faces charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, and is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center.
Additional charges discovered during booking
While being booked Thursday morning, jail staff found a small baggie of marijuana hidden on Taylor, according to a separate affidavit. That discovery led to two additional charges: attempting to bring contraband into a penal institution and possession of a controlled substance.
- Victim: Elysia Kinsella, 22
- Location: 100 block of Patten Chapel Road (Lookout Valley motel)
- Initial police response: About 4:25 p.m., Wednesday
- Arrest time: About 10:00 p.m., Wednesday
- Suspect: Donte Taylor, 40
- Charges: Abuse of a corpse; tampering with evidence; contraband and drug-related charges
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Last week | Elysia Kinsella reported missing |
| Wednesday, ~4:25 p.m. | Body found at motel parking lot, Patten Chapel Road |
| Wednesday, ~10:00 p.m. | Donte Taylor arrested |
| Thursday morning | Contraband found during booking; additional charges filed |
Community impact and next steps
The circumstances surrounding Kinsella’s death are under active investigation. The Chattanooga Police Department has asked anyone with information to call 423-698-2525. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and gathering additional evidence; the Hamilton County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
This incident has raised concern in Lookout Valley, a residential area of Chattanooga where residents and motel patrons saw multiple police vehicles and crime-scene tape on the hotel’s first floor. Authorities have not released a motive or other details about how Kinsella and the suspect were connected.
As the case proceeds through the criminal-justice process, charges filed against the suspect will be refined or supplemented as investigators and prosecutors review evidence. Anyone with tips is asked to contact Chattanooga Police.
