Boone residents react to police discovering missing SC woman's body

BOONE, NC,None — Dental records confirm that the body South Carolina law enforcement officials found on Friday is 30-year-old Dara Lee Watson.

In a press conference with the Mt. Pleasant Police Dept. on Saturday, Coroner Rae Wooten confirmed Watson was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head.

At the Watson family's western apparel store in Boone, a steady stream of people stopped and stared into the glass windows, looking at pictures of Watson hanging inside.

“(I’m) thinking about the family and their loss and hope they get better,” said student Jordan Stiles.

Most people did not know about the developments at the press conference and they were visibly shaken after hearing the news.

“It’s closure in one sense, but, by the same token, it’s knowing your worst fears have come true,” said Boone resident Don Channell.

Watson had not been seen in 12 days.  Police said Watson’s fiancé, David Hedrick, shot her in the head and then drove the body to the woods.

They said Hedrick buried her body 200 feet away, in a shallow grave.

Her burned-out SUV was discovered last week at the Francis Marion National Forest near Charleston, S.C.

Friday police found Watson’s body near the SUV.

Hedrick also tried to cover up the crime by sending text messages to co-workers with Watson’s cell phone before killing himself last week at their Mt. Pleasant home.

Watson’s mother and father were in Mt. Pleasant Saturday night with investigators.

“(They’re) just a good family, just good people, and (it’s) a tragedy what happened,” Channell said.

Channell often shopped at the Watsonatta Western World.

“They’re a family that has meant a lot to this community and a lot to the businesses here in Boone,” Channell said.

Many of Boone’s residents are planning to stop by the store and offer their support the day Watson’s parents return.

WSOC