COVID Update

As active cases and hospitalizations in Burke County due to COVID-19 continue to decline, Public Health Thursday sadly reported 17 recent virus-related deaths.

A news release says the victims were in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Sixteen were hospitalized and all died from COVID related complications.

Burke has seen 57 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday for a total of 15-thousand-909.

438 cases are active, while 26 people are still in the hospital.

McDowell County reported 16 new cases yesterday for a total of 8-thousand-648.

145 residents remain in quarantine.

Body Found

The search for a missing person in Burke County has been connected with the recent discovery of a body inside an 80-foot well in Connelly Springs.

Since August 12^th, a news release from the Burke Sheriff’s Office reports deputies had been on the lookout for 56-year-old Howell Thomas Buchanan of Washboard Lane in Morganton.

Buchanan had not been seen for some time and could not be located at his last known addresses.

Investigators have since conducted interviews and searches that led them to a fresh dig site on Old NC 18.

On Monday, authorities ordered an excavation at the site and Buchanan’s body was found and estimated 15 feet deep inside the well.

Following interviews, Buchanan’s ex-girlfriend 46-year-old Donna Hagy of Morganton was arrested; along with 41-year-old Dwayne Alan Smith of Connelly Springs.

Hagy and Smith are both charged with concealment of death; Hagy placed in custody under a 50-thousand dollar secured bond, and Smith confined with a 75-thousand dollar bond.

According to the news release, information gathered by officials led them to believe the person who killed Buchanan died days after killing him.

Evidence also led investigators to suspect Buchanan was killed in an accident involving blunt force trauma and strangulation prior to his concealment in the well.

The SBI assisted Burke investigators in the case.

Sex Offender Charged

An out-of-state sex offender has been charged by Morganton officers with failing to register a new address.

Investigating a tip, Morganton Public Safety officers learned 44-year-old Dennis Hubbard previously of Bluefield had been living at a residence within the Morganton Housing Authority on Wrighton Street.

Officers discovered Hubbard had been living at the residence and had not registered his new address with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office or West Virginia State Police.

Hubbard was not listed on the lease and was staying with another party at the Morganton location.

Hubbard was taken into custody under a 5-thousand dollar secured bond.

LE Impersonator

Hickory Police are looking for a suspect wanted for impersonating a law enforcement officer early Thursday morning.

Reports say around 3 to 3:30, the suspect conducted a vehicle stop on someone on Highway 321 in Hickory near James Oxygen Supply.

The person posing as an officer is described as a white male in his 30’s, is around 5 feet 8, medium build, has a long dark beard, and was wearing a uniform and was armed.

The suspect was driving a black SUV equipped with blue lights in the windshield.

Anyone who can identify this person should call Hickory Police at 328-5551.