Remains found in wooded area in Caldwell County identified as missing man

LENOIR, N.C. — Investigators have identified human remains, months after finding them along Boone Ford Road north of Lenoir, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office says.

Authorities identified the remains as those of 61-year-old Danny Garvin and they believe his body had been in the area for months.

Deputies said this is a suspicious death investigation.

Officials said deputies recovered the remains in January near the Pisgah National Forest and they conducted a secondary search with the help of cadaver dogs.

Investigators were able to positively identify the remains by using DNA.

There are only a handful of homes nearby and the large police presence stunned longtime residents.

“You usually can’t beg the law to come up here, but we’ve had more law in the last 48 hours than we’ve had in my 68 years,” resident Jane Chandler said.

They found the remains after leads in a missing persons case led them to the area, according to the sheriff’s office.

Garvin, 61, was reported missing by his family, who said he had not contacted them since August 2019.

“I hate that something like this would come along and happen to him,” his Aunt Elaine Story said. “I would never think that he would think about hurting anybody.”

Investigators said the remains were turned over to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy and identification.

Remains found in Iredell Co. identified as woman reported missing in 2016 Remains found in Iredell Co. identified as woman reported missing in 2016

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