North Carolina

Fisherman finds bag of dynamite in Ashe Co.

ASHE COUNTY — A bag of powerful explosives were discovered in the North Carolina mountains near some homes.

Ashe County investigators are trying to figure out how they got there.

A fisherman and his son found the dynamite near their Campbell Road home.

Deputies said there was enough explosives in the bag to take out much of a hillside.

Investigators sent Channel 9 photos of the laptop computer bag with dynamite still in it.

Harrison Ashley showed Channel 9 where the dynamite was found on the bank of the river not far from his home. Like many there, he has more questions than answers about the case.

"I don't know what to think about that. Why is it here, because I live in the neighborhood? Did they throw it off, did it roll of a truck? (I) don't know how it got there," said Ashley.

Sheriff's deputies said those are some of the same questions they are asking.

They photographed the area Monday and said the bag contained the equivalent of six to seven sticks of dynamite, including one that was wired to a detonation cord.

"It would have taken the road down to the river and blown the windows out of that house over there if it didn't blow the house itself up," said Ashe County Sheriff Sgt. Phillip Moody.

A bomb disposal team from Wilkes County removed the bag and its contents Sunday.

Investigators said it appears the dynamite had only been along the river for a day or two.  

They said the dynamite, along with newspaper inside the bag, was dry and a heavy rain a week ago would have washed it into the river.  

Deputies said there are serial numbers on the sticks of dynamite.  They hope to use those numbers to find out where the explosives came from.