James Howell | Jefferson Post
Investigators looked down a steep cliff trying to locate a wrecked silver car that matches the description of the vehicle last driven by a missing woman.
Local law enforcement officials located the vehicle of a Charlotte woman who went missing last week along a rugged section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and confirmed the identity of a nearby body to be Holly Fischer, who had been missing since last week.
According to the N.C. State Patrol, the car, reportedly a 2004 silver Infinity FX35, was located by a trooper at about 11 p.m. Sunday, June 2, near the Ashe/Wilkes county line in Wilkes County along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
According to Ashe County Sheriff James Williams, officials identified a nearby body that was thrown from the car to be Fischer, 39, of Charlotte, who was last seen by her father in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, May 27.
“We’re satisfied it’s her; her family is satisfied it’s her,” said Williams. Williams also said even though it was difficult to identify the body due to exposure, Fischer’s identification was found on the body.
“I hate it for her family; they are really nice people,” said Williams.
According to N.C. Highway Trooper Brian Sharpe, Fischer’s car tumbled over 1,000 feet down a steep cliff on the parkway, making it difficult for responders to retrieve the car.
Due to the condition of the car, responders could not immediately confirm if the vehicle was an exact match of Fischer’s vehicle, and because of the terrain, could not read the license place number.
“I have never seen anything like that in my life,” said Ashe County Sheriff James Williams about the car’s condition. “The car looked like a piece of tin-foil someone waded up.”
Law enforcement officials began searching for Fischer last Thursday after her father reported her missing.
In an attempt to locate Fischer, officials from Knoxville, Tenn., completed a cell tower ping of Fischer’s cell phone on Thursday. Her last known location by use of cell phone was in Ashe County on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the location of the wrecked vehicle.
After looking for over 36 hours, the search was suspended when attempts to locate the car or Fischer were unsuccessful, but re-ignited after N.C. Highway Patrol located the car. To pinpoint the location of the vehicle, the N.C. Highway Patrol sent a helicopter to the area.
The car was retrieved after six hours of hard work from the Wilkes County Rescue Squad and other volunteers.
The State Bureau of Investigation, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and Wilbar Volunteer Fire and Rescue also arrived at the scene to assist.
According to Williams, no foul play is suspected and the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office will continue the investigation.
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