The Guilford County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that human remains discovered near the Haw River in Chatham County are those of Gwen Jenell Collins, a 62-year-old Gibsonville resident who had been reported missing in August. As reported by WRAL, the identification was made using medical records and bone comparisons by the Medical Examiner's Office.
Collins had been last seen near her home on Bellflower Road in Guilford County, and her absence prompted an extensive search, with efforts spanning several acres in the region. According to FOX8, concerns were heightened as Collins suffered from schizophrenia, was without her medication, and had impaired vision due to cataracts, which raised fears she might have slipped into the Reedy Fork Tributary.
The remains were found by a kayaker on September 21 along the banks of the Haw River near Chicken Bridge Road in Pittsboro. Following the discovery, additional bones were retrieved during a search involving multiple agencies, as noted by WXII 12. This joint search included teams from the Nash County Sheriff's Office cadaver dogs, the North Chatham Fire Department's swift water rescue team, and Chatham County Emergency Management.
During a press conference, Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers shared, "Skeletal remains were found in Chatham County on Sept. 21." This statement obtained by FOX8, coupled with the investigative leads, points to the possibility that Collins may have been swept away or drowned in a larger creek adjoining her home, which flows into the Haw River. Her identity was confirmed through concerted efforts of forensic analysis and cross-referencing of available medical data.
