A haunting discovery on the side of Highway 601 in Cabarrus County has led to an arrest in connection with the death of 33-year-old Iltride Dade, a Florida woman reported missing earlier this month by her family. According to a report by WCNC, Dade's body was wrapped in trash bags before being discarded near a bridge, an event that developed after she went missing on November 2. Her boyfriend, Jacques Hans-Jerome, a long-haul truck driver with dual residencies in Concord, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, has been charged with unlawful concealment of death.
Found decomposing when deputies arrived, Lt. Chris Smith said in a statement obtained by WCCB that the body of Dade generated tips from distinct clues, such as a nail painted white, decorated with rhinestones and a gold palmetto tree charm. The efforts to identify her posthumously focused on a 911 caller reporting "a dead body" on November 4, with "a trash bag over her head." However, the identity of Dade remained a mystery until investigators received conclusive information.
Hans-Jerome was apprehended weeks after the discovery, and as noted by WBTV, he was placed in the Cabarrus County Jail with bail set at $1 million. The nature of Dade's death leads investigators to approach the case as a homicide, although Hans-Jerome has not been charged with it. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida is involved in aiding the ongoing investigation.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, clothing belonging to Dade provided additional inklings into her identity, cited by officials in hopes that it would catch the public's eye. She was wearing sweatpants adorned with a race car and a distinct pattern, and also, a gold chain necklace with rainbow-colored stones. Despite this, as described by Lt. Smith in the 911 call accessed by WCCB, the flood of tips that came remained unfruitful.
Hans-Jerome's arrest ensued as the autopsy aimed to provide further insight into the cause of Dade's death, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 12. His neighbor, expressing disbelief, told WBTV, “All my sympathy goes out to her family. It’s senseless. It’s crazy.”
