What started as a routine welfare check at a Fairview home on Thursday night ended with deputies finding three people dead and a 16-year-old girl missing, according to Buncombe County officials. By early Friday, that teen had been found in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with a male companion and is expected to be questioned by investigators as the unfolding case crosses state lines.
Authorities have not yet identified the three victims or released a cause of death. The investigation has drawn in multiple agencies as detectives work through leads and forensic evidence.
Scene and timeline
Deputies were called to perform a welfare check around 7:15 p.m. Thursday at a residence on Ashworth Drive, where they discovered three people dead, according to a May 8 news release from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office cited by The Charlotte Observer. Detectives soon determined that a 16-year-old girl who lived at the home was unaccounted for and expanded the inquiry.
Officials did not immediately identify the victims, and the sheriff’s office has kept specific details about the scene and how the victims died under wraps as the investigation continues.
Teen located in Gatlinburg
In its release, the sheriff’s office said the missing teen “was located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, accompanied by a male,” and that investigators were headed to Gatlinburg to interview both individuals, The Charlotte Observer reports. Gatlinburg sits on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains and is roughly a 95-mile drive from the Fairview area, placing key parts of the probe in another state.
Authorities said coordination between jurisdictions is in progress as officials track leads tied to the teen’s movements and the events at the Ashworth Drive home.
Which agencies are involved
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Gatlinburg Police Department are assisting with the case. State agency pages describe how the SBI and TBI provide forensic, investigative and liaison support when local departments request help; see N.C. SBI and TBI. The City of Gatlinburg website includes contact and department information for local police.
What officials say and next steps
Buncombe County officials have not released the names of the deceased or the cause of death as they continue notifying relatives and conducting forensic work. The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with information to contact investigators, noting that its website offers avenues for tips and media inquiries. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has said it will share further updates when appropriate.
