Body of missing woman recovered from campground month after Tropical Storm Helene

AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — The body of a woman who had been missing from a campground in Avery County following Tropical Storm Helene was recovered last week.

On October 23, the sheriff’s office was conducting a search operation on the North Toe River in the Ingalls community.

During that search, deputies found a deceased woman who had been missing from the Buck Hill Campground since it flooded last month during the storm.

Dental records were able to identify the woman as 70-year-old Charlene Caroline Wilber.

The owners of the campground said they are thankful for the help from the community and deputies who keep searching.

“God bless you. I can’t imagine finding someone under all this mud. It’s really heartbreaking,” said owner April Caudle.

One of the deputy searchers revealed he also lost the roof of his home during the storm.

“We’re glad to do it just because maybe it will give the families a little bit of an ending to it. A little bit of peace of mind if we can find a body or relative. We’re just doing it, trying to help someone,” said Deputy Tim Winters.

The sheriff’s office said Wilber was one of three residents who remained missing in Avery County following Tropical Storm Helene.

This brings the official death toll to five.

The sheriff’s office said it will continue to exhaust all efforts and follow any leads received regarding the remaining missing individuals.

VIDEO: Recovering after Helene: Meck County leaders get update on storm damage

Recovering after Helene: Meck County leaders get update on storm damage

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