2 aggravated kidnapping arrests made in connection with David Heisler disappearance

David Heisler went missing from his home in Santa Clara Monday, June 28, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Sandra Heisler, St. George News

SANTA CLARA — Police have arrested a man and a woman Tuesday for aggravated kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of David Corey Heisler who went missing from his Santa Clara home June 27 under suspicious circumstances.

Kelley Marie Perry, of Washington, Utah, booking photo posted July 5, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Kelley Marie Perry, of Washington, Utah, booking photo posted July 5, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Kelley Marie Perry, the mother of David Heisler’s daughter, and Francis Lee McCard, both of Washington City, were booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility Tuesday on first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felony aggravated burglary and second-degree felony theft of a motor vehicle.

McCard is being held without bail while Perry’s bail for release pending trial stands at $100,000 cash-only, Santa Clara-Ivins Police Officer Chad Holt said.

David Heisler’s vehicle was found July 1 abandoned in Beaver Dam, Arizona, Holt said. The vehicle was processed for evidence by the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department and the Utah State Crime Lab.

Although the vehicle was found and arrests have been made, David Heisler remains missing, his step-mother, Debbie Heisler, confirmed late Tuesday night.

Francis Lee McCard, of Washington, Utah, booking photo posted July 5, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Francis Lee McCard, of Washington, Utah, booking photo posted July 5, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

At the time of his disappearance, David Heisler and his daughter were living with his step-mother and father, Kenneth Heisler, in a neighborhood off Lava Flow Drive.

David Heisler had just been awarded sole custody of his daughter on June 13 after years of related legal proceedings.

Perry had taken to social media to express her outrage and discontent with the custody situation.

According to her Facebook page, Perry set up multiple GoFundMe pages asking the public for help in paying for legal representation to obtain custody of her daughter. 

The investigation into David Heisler’s disappearance is still ongoing, Holt said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mojave County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management are assisting in the investigation.

“This is still under investigation, but David is still missing and we still need to bring him home,” a heartbroken Debbie Heisler said of her step-son late Tuesday night.

Kenneth Heisler wrote the following message on a GoFundMe page set up by a family member to assist with the expense of searching for his son:

david is my life my little boy who grew to be a good man and a great father i’M PROUD TO BE HIS DAD , my tears will never stop flowing for him to come home .but i know deep down it’s not to be , i will protect his daughter for him and make sure she is safe , and we will find those who took this wonderful man from his precious little girl life

Screenshot of Kelley Perry's Facebook post on July 4, 2015, St. George News
Screenshot of Kelley Perry’s Facebook post on July 4, 2015, St. George News

Since his disappearance, according to Utah Court documents, Kenneth and Debbie Heisler filed for custody of David Heisler’s daughter on June 30.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of David Heisler, is asked to contact the Washington County Dispatch or the Santa Clara Ivins Police Department at 435-634-5730.  

David Heisler’s description (provided by his father):

  • Name: David Heisler
  • Age: 30 years old
  • Race: Caucasian
  • Height: 6 foot 1 inch
  • Weight: 170 pounds
  • Hair: Dark brown, neatly trimmed, sideburns down to his chin
  • Last seen wearing: Grey shorts, black T-shirt
  • Distinguishing characteristics: No tattoos, no piercings

This is a developing story. 

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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20 Comments

  • Lastdays July 6, 2016 at 9:57 am

    This area just doesn’t seem to run out of creepy looking people capable of doing serious criminal acts. Hope they find David alive somewhere.

    • .... July 7, 2016 at 5:32 am

      Yeah we’s a gotta way two many creepeze round here. that’s two bad we’s a gotta them creepers creepin round. …dang Tweekers !!

  • ladybugavenger July 6, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    From what the father said, I cant help but think that this is going to turn into a murder charge. This is just awful. I hope they show remorse and confess to where he is.

    My heart goes out to his parents and family and friends 🙁

    • .... July 6, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      Ladybug. .yep ! I be a thinkin yous is about right !

  • Bob July 6, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    sounds like they murdered him, but i’m sure that’s the effect the writer was going for, so who knows…

  • Bob July 6, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    mom looks like a meth addict, and Fracis kinda got them cold killer eyes, yes?

  • Bob July 6, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    the whole thing seems real creepy, hope he’s not dead

  • Bob July 6, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    1st degree murder might get these two meth addicts the death penalty

  • SteveSGU July 6, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    So glad those evil-looking people are locked away. If she did this, the mother should never be allowed access to that child again.

  • Tami July 6, 2016 at 9:12 pm

    While I don’t know David, or his family, my thoughts and prayers are with them. I DO know that even though things have been hard with a breakup and custody issues, that Kellie has been proactive in trying to find David, if only for the sake of their daughter. She would never want her to hurt this badly!I pray that she really didn’t have anything to do with his disappearance as she has adamantly expressed.

    • Natasha July 7, 2016 at 5:42 pm

      Do you know her personal???? Cuz she sure knowknow how to put on a good face. She isn’t innocent and admitted to it. She doeanr care about that little girl or she wouldn’t have even thought about doing this….. Do you know what she did to her oldest daughter??? She is where she belongs, hope she stays there!!

      • Chiefs Fan July 8, 2016 at 9:20 am

        I agree, she’s where she belongs! She doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as we do! What did she do to her older daughter? Or, maybe I don’t want to know!

  • .... July 7, 2016 at 5:24 am

    The two of them belong twogether

    • Real Life July 7, 2016 at 9:22 am

      We need to have a talk with that Wal Mart pharmacist. You are taking WAY too many.

  • LeAnn July 7, 2016 at 9:35 pm

    What is going on with this investigation? The people who took him know EXACTLY where he is?! Why are they not getting the information out of them. The cops should be able to backtrack their travels and friends, etc. I pray they get to the bottom of this soon. It is heartbreaking.

  • debbie July 12, 2016 at 5:04 pm

    Question? Why does the name say Burch but your saying it’s Perry? How someone can just do terrible things to other people…. not accounting for their life and existence and how immense it is.

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic July 13, 2016 at 7:12 am

      Former or also-known-as name, Debbie. In the suit between her and David Heisler she is named Kelley Marie Burch.
      I hope that helps,
      ST. GEORGE NEWS
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

  • linds82 July 25, 2016 at 11:47 am

    David was a really awesome person and father. He loves his daughter more than anything in the world and he only wanted custody to keep his daughter safe. Kelly injured their daughter intentionally when she was like 1 or 2. He was doing what was best for the little one. It goes to show that Kelly really doesn’t care about their daughter because she so easily took her daddy away. It makes me ill to think about. My heart hurts for his family and especially his daughter. Its been in my head so much since I saw David’s picture on Main Street with “Missing” as the headline. I knew immediately that his baby mama had something to do with it. Sickening.

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