Update to Police Seek Assistance Identifying Decedent
Published on December 03, 2025
Roberto E. Bryan, Jr
Chief of Police
Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sgt. A. Caldwell, Public Information Officer
Date: December 3, 2025 Phone: (910) 433-1487 OCA: 2025-013333
All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.
Update to Police Seek Assistance Identifying Decedent
(Fayetteville, NC) – The Fayetteville Police Department has a dedicated Missing Person’s Detective assigned to the Homicide Unit seeking the public’s assistance identifying a deceased elderly female.
Detective Holly Vernon is assigned to the Homicide Unit as the newly dedicated investigator for all Missing Person’s cases within the city limits of Fayetteville, N.C.
Detective Vernon is seeking the public’s assistance identifying the elderly female in the updated sketch below.
Between the time frame of May 15 – 19, 2025, the unidentified elderly female was dropped off by an unknown person, by unknown means and left inside of a funeral home along the 3800 block of Raeford Rd. The funeral home was secured when the unidentified elderly female was dropped off. Funeral home personnel discovered the elderly female did not have the proper paperwork and law enforcement was contacted.
The woman is described as possibly being of American Indian or Hispanic descent, estimated to be 65 years of age or older. She is approximately 5 feet tall and 150 pounds with an olive to pecan complexion. Her graying hair is long enough to be gathered into a small ponytail. She has no teeth and no tattoos.
Detectives noted several distinctive medical characteristics, including a missing big toe on her left foot and evidence of a recent medical procedure on her abdomen.
A scar was identified on the unknown elderly females left side indicating a possible hip replacement procedure may have been performed. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner found no implanted hardware with an identifying number.
"Our goal is to restore this woman's identity and provide her family with the information and services she and they deserve," said Shawn Strepay, Captain with the Fayetteville Police Department. "We do not suspect foul play. This is about ensuring a member of our community is treated with dignity and respect. We are hopeful someone will recognize her so she may be taken to a proper final resting place."
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the decedent, or who may know of a family missing a relative matching this description, is urged to contact Detective H. Vernon with the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-758-6700. Information can also be submitted to Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet, or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.
Police Seek Assistance Identifying Decedent
(Fayetteville, NC) – The Fayetteville Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a deceased elderly female in order to connect with her family and ensure she receives proper final arrangements.
To aid in the identification, a digital image has been created using a photograph of the decedent.
The woman is described as possibly being of American Indian or Hispanic descent, estimated to be 65 years of age or older. She is approximately 5 feet tall and 150 pounds with an olive to pecan complexion. Her graying hair is long enough to be gathered into a small ponytail. She has no teeth and no tattoos.
Detectives noted several distinctive medical characteristics, including a missing big toe on her left foot and evidence of a recent medical procedure on her abdomen. She also shows signs of a possible past hip replacement on her left side.
The local Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner have been consulted. Additionally, local reports have been checked, and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS), has been searched without success.
"Our goal is to restore this woman's identity and provide her family with the information and services she and they deserve," said Shawn Strepay, Captain with the Fayetteville Police Department. "We do not suspect foul play. This is about ensuring a member of our community is treated with dignity and respect. We are hopeful someone will recognize her so she may be taken to a proper final resting place."
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the decedent, or who may know of a family missing a relative matching this description, is urged to contact Detective H. Vernon with the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-758-6700. Information can also be submitted to Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet, or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty
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