Authorities Identify Remains Found in Rutherford County as Missing Man
Authorities have confirmed that human remains discovered earlier this month in Rutherford County belong to 58-year-old Ricky Watson, who had been missing since June 2025.
On October 14, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2800 block of Poors Ford Road after a passerby discovered what appeared to be a human femur. The bone was turned over to the North Carolina State Medical Examiner’s Office for testing and identification.
A subsequent search of the heavily wooded area on October 20 led investigators to locate additional skeletal remains. Two days later, the state medical examiner positively identified them as those of Ricky Watson.
Watson was last seen around 2 p.m. on June 20 walking into the woods near his home, according to a neighbor. When he failed to return, his family reported him missing the next morning, prompting an extensive multi-day search covering hundreds of acres.
Deputies say no foul play is suspected in Watson’s death, though the exact cause remains under review. Authorities expressed condolences to the Watson family, who endured months of uncertainty before receiving confirmation of his fate. The investigation remains open pending final autopsy results.
Leave a Reply