Two years later, authorities hopeful answers will be revealed
The Graham County Sheriff’s Office is still optimistic about making an arrest in connection with the February 2023 death of Carley Walls.
Robbinsville – It has been more than two years since the lifeless body of 27-year-old Carley Dunn Walls was discovered around 9 a.m. Feb. 5, 2023.
While no arrests have been made in connection with her death, that does not mean the Graham County Sheriff’s Office has given up.
“I wish we could find the missing piece of the puzzle,” Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit said Tuesday.
Efforts are still being made to interview persons of interest and clarification was requested on specifics from the Feb. 8, 2023, autopsy by the District Attorney’s Office, but there are no further leads at this time.
A $3,000 reward is still being offered for anyone with any information that could help investigators finally crack the case. The sheriff’s office can be reached at 828-479-3352. Multiple residents shared a Facebook post around the second anniversary of her passing, with a photo of Walls and a caption that read, “Hi my name is Carley Walls and I was murdered!! Am I just suppose (sic) to be forgotten? Is there no justice? No answers for me? I know my family is praying that this will be solved!”
Walls was found with no clothing on halfway inside some bushes – and roughly 30 feet away from a camper – in the former River Breeze Trailer Park off Five Points Road. Responding authorities quickly shielded her from a small crowd of curious onlookers by covering her with a sheet. Her dog was found nearby, also deceased.
The discovery of Walls’ body came around 12 hours after a 911 call dispatched firefighters to a fully engulfed vehicle more than 15 miles from River Breeze, off Tatham Gap Road. Soon after the flames were extinguished, the car was determined to belong to Walls.
Her last known interaction with anyone was at the mobile home park the night before her body was found, where she was allegedly wearing coveralls, a shirt and a hat. Temperatures the night of her passing dipped into the high 20s. According to authorities, no one at the park admitted to seeing Walls leave with anyone the night of her death.
Nearly 11 months later, the Jan. 3, 2024, release of Walls’ autopsy led the Graham County Sheriff’s Office to decree that both new and follow-up interviews could be conducted. Walls’ passing was attributed to environmental hypothermia, blunt-force trauma and methamphetamine toxicity. Her autopsy was conducted by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s pathologist, Dr. Patrick Lentz.
Lesions found inside Walls’ stomach point were consistent with exposure to cold elements and the leading cause for her death. The autopsy noted between 50-75 black, gastric Wischnewski spots were identified in her stomach. What causes the spots to form is still a medicinal mystery, but they are almost always present in a deceased individual who has passed away due to hypothermia.
The thorax, abdomen and back – as well as upper and lower extremities – were all found to have sustained blunt-force trauma. Contusions were documented on her forehead, above both eyes, the right side of her head and below the right side of her mouth. There was also multiple bruises atop Walls’ head and three total bumps found inside her eyelids that are consistent with an individual straining with great pressure (petechiae).
More bruising and cuts were found around her chest and rib cage, and Lentz estimated between 50-60 abrasions on the right side of her back, from her shoulder and continuing down the side of the body. There were a variety of cuts on both her arms and hands, her lower back and ankles; both of Walls’ thighs were covered in contusions, estimated to be around 50 in totality.
The amount of methamphetamine present was defined as “greater than 5 mg/L.” There was also a small amount of amphetamine (0.25 mg/L) in her bloodstream. In addition, there was a limited amount of alcohol (0.2 blood alcohol content) in her body.