Deceased/Not Found NC - Frances "Dell" Collett Apperson, deaf adult, car found at Linville Gorge,

[mayimagpie]

Frances Apperson was last seen May 17th leaving her home in Charlotte, NC. Her vehicle was later discovered on May 30th in the parking lots near Linville Falls. She is a 5'2 white female, with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement is asking the public for any photos taken in the area between May 17th - May 30th to be sent to fire@burkenc.org.

She is a good friend of my grandmother so please share!



Rescuers looking for photos from Linville Falls parking lot to help track missing woman’s steps

Missing Charlotte woman could be in Gorge, car found near Linville Falls

 

[YaYa_521]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1529917063136956422

 

[YaYa_521]

CMPD: Woman who is deaf reported missing; last known to be in Burke County

SBM
...last seen leaving her home on North Course Drive
...new information had led detectives to believe that Apperson’s last known location was in the area of Sugar Mountain in Avery County. But deputies then said they found her SUV in a Linville Gorge parking area in Burke County.
...he has already hiked down to the Linville River, looking for his sister.
One of the locations where authorities said Apperson may be was the area near Hawksbill Mountain, and family members said Apperson had hiked that before but it is miles from Linville Gorge.

 

[swanniee11]

Her FB Log into Facebook

 

[Knox]

Burke County Search And Rescue​

https://www.facebook.com/BurkeRescu...dAQHdGn924PySkJPJEUeYELGcCLnbxI&__tn__=,O,P-R

**UPDATE, 8:45pm 06/17/2022** Search efforts for Frances “Dell” Collett Apperson continued throughout the week. Today a crew searched along the river below Linville Falls. With water levels down, they were able to make significant progress down stream searching in the river and along the banks looking for any clues of Dell. Further search plans will be discussed and developed in the coming weeks. We ask that if you were in the area of Linville Falls/Linville Information Cabin on May 17th, 2022 and have any information on Mrs. Apperson please call 911 or 828-437-1911.

Thank you to the family of Mrs. Apperson for your continued support, and helping with every search.

Thank you to everyone who came out today in a continued effort to locate Mrs. Apperson -
Burke County EMS Special Operations, Burke County Emergency Managment, Buncombe County Rescue Squad, Henderson County Rescue Squad, and Linville Central Rescue Squad.













https://www.facebook.com/BurkeRescu...Vsr5Kk8hPFTTq8XTmFqnNtQtH2tYJyt&__tn__=<<,P-R

 

[Knox]

CMPD: Woman who is deaf reported missing; last known to be in Burke County

SBM
...last seen leaving her home on North Course Drive
...new information had led detectives to believe that Apperson’s last known location was in the area of Sugar Mountain in Avery County. But deputies then said they found her SUV in a Linville Gorge parking area in Burke County.
...he has already hiked down to the Linville River, looking for his sister.
One of the locations where authorities said Apperson may be was the area near Hawksbill Mountain, and family members said Apperson had hiked that before but it is miles from Linville Gorge.

Sugar Mountain to Hawksbill Mountain

www.google.com

Sugar Mountain and Linville Gorge/Hawksbill Mountain area are over twenty miles apart? Is this a matter of foul play, or was she hiking and became lost, or?

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Sugar Mountain and Linville Gorge/Hawksbill Mountain area are over twenty miles apart? Is this a matter of foul play, or was she hiking and became lost, or?

Good observation. There are several hiking routes connecting those areas, notably a section of North Carolina's Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), but it looks like quite challenging terrain. One trail guide notes that "even the MST blazing, a 3" white circle, may be sparse" so it would be easy to get lost.

Just wondering if she was believed to have hiking and camping equipment with her. Most visitors to Linville Gorge are day trippers, stopping there for a short while to see the views.

 

[positive]

I spent 6 days at the gorge last summer. I was exactly in these spots. I did Hawksbill Mtn and hiked from the Linneville Gorge parking lot.
If her car was at the parking lot she could have not visited the falls and walked a dirt road from the parking lot towards several other trailheads.

The trails I hiked were frequently visited and well worn. Not easy to get lost.
Would be nice to know if she was an experienced hiker.
Hoping for her to just be injured outside the search area and found safe and soon.

 

[positive]

If she went on the dirt road the trailheads are still traveled frequently. It is rough terrain and if you have no app or map it would be easy to take a wrong turn but hard to get lost if experienced.

It is rough terrain tho.

 

[Unsolved]

I read that another man (Dean Anthony Yelton) went missing from that area in 2020 - I am praying for the searchers for any news for both cases.

Man last seen near Linville Falls with hiking equipment remains missing

A man is missing after being dropped off in Burke County last week with camping equipment.

www.wbtv.com

 

[JnRyan]

The Charley Project's case:

Frances Collett Apperson – The Charley Project

It has been MANY years but I hiked to Hawksbill with my uncle and cousin. I've also been biking on the Blue Ridge Parkway during the now defunct NC Bridge-to-Bridge Century. Beautiful country, but country where one could be lost and not likely found.

 

[CastlesBurning]

RIP Dell

Frances “Dell” Adeline Collett Apperson - Sossoman Funeral Home

 

[Vern_S]

The tag on this Thread is incorrect. Frances Apperson has not been found and the tag needs to be changed.

Two weeks ago I was with Burke County EMS conducting a search for Frances at Linville Falls. We searched the Upper basin of the falls on the first day and the plunge (lower) basin of the falls the second day. No remains were found as of yet but this is just the start. Further searches of the basins and the Linville river as it winds through Linville Gorge are being planned. Updates will be posted here.

Below are some photos of this search.

Upper Basin search with ROV.


Plunge Basin Search with ROV.



Operating the ROV.




ROV used in the search.

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

This thread was tagged "Found Deceased" because we were notified that was the case.

How do we explain her obituary and the graveside service ?

Frances “Dell” Adeline Collett Apperson - Sossoman Funeral Home

Frances “Dell” Adeline Collett Apperson, 67, of Morganton, North Carolina passed away on Thursday May 17, 2022 in Linvi…

www.sossomanfh.com

 

[Vern_S]

ADMIN NOTE:

This thread was tagged "Found Deceased" because we were notified that was the case.

How do we explain her obituary and the graveside service ?

Frances “Dell” Adeline Collett Apperson - Sossoman Funeral Home

Frances “Dell” Adeline Collett Apperson, 67, of Morganton, North Carolina passed away on Thursday May 17, 2022 in Linvi…

www.sossomanfh.com

The family had made the decision to have a funeral service for her after the extensive search and she had not been found. The only place she could be at that point was in the Linville River and the local public safety and search teams did not have the ability to search like I do. It's not uncommon for a family to have a funeral service for a loved one that is missing but certain to be deceased.

The gentleman outlined in green is the brother of Frances, Tod Collett. He is listed as a surviving sibling in the obituary.



Please see the following

Planning a Memorial for a Missing Person

When a loved one goes missing, it can be a deeply traumatic experience. The uncertainty and unanswered questions can make the grieving process complex and challenging. One way to find closure and honor the memory of the missing person is by planning a mem

www.myfarewelling.com

 

[BlkMtnGirl]

The tag on this Thread is incorrect. Frances Apperson has not been found and the tag needs to be changed.

Two weeks ago I was with Burke County EMS conducting a search for Frances at Linville Falls. We searched the Upper basin of the falls on the first day and the plunge (lower) basin of the falls the second day. No remains were found as of yet but this is just the start. Further searches of the basins and the Linville river as it winds through Linville Gorge are being planned. Updates will be posted here.

Below are some photos of this search.

Thank you, Vern, for your work in the Gorge. I saw that Frances's car was found off old 105 near a trail. Would you know which trail that was? I'm curious because the plunge basin you're searching is upstream from any of the trails on old 105, right? It sounds like you'll be searching further downstream later.

 

[Vern_S]

Thank you, Vern, for your work in the Gorge. I saw that Frances's car was found off old 105 near a trail. Would you know which trail that was? I'm curious because the plunge basin you're searching is upstream from any of the trails on old 105, right? It sounds like you'll be searching further downstream later.

The first day of searching was the upper basin above the falls. We left from the parking lot off 105 where her car was found. Day 2 we parked at the visitor center off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked down to the plunge basin below the falls.

A YouTube friend helped out and documented the search. He just released Day 1 of the search today. PM me if you would like the link.

 

[Vern_S]

I am planning a second search of the plunge basin in a month or so. There is an area beneath the falls in a 20ft deep chasm that has a huge log that is jammed at an angle into debris at the bottom. The water circulating because of the log and is so aerated that my underwater ROV sunk right to the bottom and was totally uncontrollable. As we pulled it up by it's tether it became hung up on the chasm wall about 10ft down. I ventured out on the 5 - 6 ft deep shelf to the edge of the chasm and then dove down using the tether to pull myself down the wall of the chasm with my feet walking along the wall like I was repelling until I got to the ROV and freed it. It was quite the adventure! And yes, this will be in the Day 2 video.

I have devised a plan to use a swift water type setup and 2 inflatable paddleboards lashed together to allow 2 people to control an underwater camera on 30ft of pole to inspect this area and underneath the falls. I have a high level of confidence that Frances may be there.

Here is a rough sketch.



Here is a classic swift water setup.



Motto of the day, We don't plan, we improvise!

And then overcome the impossible.