Mourning daughter, Overland Park parents aim to help depressed teens

A University of Arkansas student from Overland Park who was reported missing has been found dead.

University Police Department Capt. Gary Crain told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that 18-year-old Ashley Lane Marrs was found dead Friday night.

Marrs’ parents in Overland Park have stated publicly that they believe their daughter killed herself. They are now raising money to help teenagers with depression.

Marrs was found in her car about 6:20 p.m. Friday outside a motel about 2 miles from campus, according to police. She had been reported missing shortly before noon Friday by her parents after they were unable to contact her.

On Monday, the parents created a GoFundMe page as a memorial to Marrs, writing on it that Marrs took her own life after a long battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Her parents, Jeff and Jan Marrs, wrote that they intended to collect donations to help teens with depression.

As of Tuesday, the page had collected more than $20,000.

Marrs’ body is being sent to the state medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 18, 2016 at 8:21 AM with the headline "Mourning daughter, Overland Park parents aim to help depressed teens."