Found Deceased NC - Karin Ottenberg, 49, mom of 2, vehicle, phone & purse were found at her home in Sunset Park nbhd, Wilmington, 22 Dec 2024

[Knox]

Public records state Karin's address in Wilmington, as well as a photo on her facebook page. Karin Rochelle

Accessor's records state there is a utility building behind the home. Perhaps that is where she was found?

My thoughts are with her kids, family & friends tonight. Very unexpected news for them

New Hanover County

etax.nhcgov.com

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[Gemmie]

Wilmington woman found dead after missing

Anyone with information is asked to call 910-343-3609.

www.wect.com

"No foul play is suspected."

So that means what? Committed suicide or some weird accident?

That's my take. While I could be wrong, I'm more in the suicide department than a weird accident, only because her house was so small and they "walked right by her" (paraphrased). Christmas can be hard on some people. It really puts them into a funk if they are struggling financially, or feeling lonely. Both are JMO. I'm not saying she was either. Just that the holidays can affect some people in a bad way, unfortunately.

 

[truthfinder2019]

In the articles posted in the thread, it is stated the entrance door was not locked and that all her belongings were in the house. She was waiting for her kid to come home for XMas.
IMO a pity the door was not closed from the inside, they would have probably searched more or better within the small house. It would seem everyone thought she had left the house.
IMO this could also well be a medical issue, such as cardiac arrest or vascular accident. It would also possibly explain the strange location.
JMO

 

[tlcya]

just getting caught up with this news. I am so sad for her loved ones, especially the children. What a horrible time to lose a parent

I am of the natural or accidental death opinion. Mostly because she has the young children and knew that they would be coming/returned that day. I would prefer to believe she wouldn't take her own life under that circumstance because she wouldn't want her children to be present when found. Regardless of the how, my prayers go out to those who knew and loved her.

 

[lonetraveler]

Or perhaps a coat closet? One that’s not used often? Is there a basement/cellar? I’m also struggling to think of a house of any size, much less 800 sq ft, where a dead body goes unnoticed for multiple days over Christmas knowing she is missing.

No basements in this area, it's at sea level, only minutes from beach. I lived a block away when I first moved to Wilmington many years ago.

 

[lonetraveler]

Wilmington woman found dead after missing

Anyone with information is asked to call 910-343-3609.

www.wect.com

"No foul play is suspected."

So that means what? Committed suicide or some weird accident?

At first I was thinking fentanyl overdose or suicide.

 

[lonetraveler]

I also thought that maybe she was hiding the children's Christmas presents in a small closet or in the storage area.

 

[lonetraveler]

That's my take. While I could be wrong, I'm more in the suicide department than a weird accident, only because her house was so small and they "walked right by her" (paraphrased). Christmas can be hard on some people. It really puts them into a funk if they are struggling financially, or feeling lonely. Both are JMO. I'm not saying she was either. Just that the holidays can affect some people in a bad way, unfortunately.

So much going through my head right now, if suicide, could she have hanged herself in a closet? Just throwing things out there. Would be helpful if WPD would update.

 

[Gemmie]

So much going through my head right now, if suicide, could she have hanged herself in a closet? Just throwing things out there. Would be helpful if WPD would update.

I would have thought they'd have looked in all closets, especially since her car, phone & purse were still there, which would indicate she hadn't left. Had those 3 things been gone? Sure, I can see doing a walk-thru but not opening closet doors figuring that she drove somewhere. But all 3 being there? A more through search should have been done, even the 1st one.

 

[lonetraveler]

So unfortunate. Tried to peruse the articles on the nature of the house. I wonder if it might have a crawl space, basement (or maybe an attic?) that might have some relevance to the obscure? My mind also went to an outdoor garden or well after thinking further. MOO

No wells there. Houses are on City water system.

 

[Rosydecember]

I also thought that maybe she was hiding the children's Christmas presents in a small closet or in the storage area.

Actually this one makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[borndem]

Yes, I wonder too. Most of the homes in Sunset Park are small.

Found where? Closet? Attic? Pantry?

 

[Gemmie]

Really weird because her mother gave an interview just in front of the said house.

Video

www.facebook.com

What could be the quoting “obscure location”

The news guy announcing her said it was Karin's friend "S". I'd have thought she would have corrected him before she started speaking had it been her mother. JMO

 

[nightowl1975]

I also thought that maybe she was hiding the children's Christmas presents in a small closet or in the storage area.

Yes, something like this, or perhaps she had gone into the attic for Christmas decorations, especially if attic access was directly off of a bedroom or hallway type situation. Then perhaps she suffered a medical event while in the attic?

 

[Gemmie]

Yes, something like this, or perhaps she had gone into the attic for Christmas decorations, especially if attic access was directly off of a bedroom or hallway type situation. Then perhaps she suffered a medical event while in the attic?

The thing to me about an accident like that happening in the attic is that I'd think it would be obvious. Most people don't go into an attic and close the door. They leave it wide open. You know, so you can run when you think the boogie man is coming for you. (I hate attics. lol) But seriously, if the entrance was via a trap like door in the ceiling, there'd be a ladder under it. That'd tell anyone searching for her to look up, call out, and then go up there to take a look if no response.

Then there's the door at the top of the stair entryway. You'd think it would be noticeable to anyone looking for her if it was standing open. Unless she closed it behind her to die by suicide. Still, if entry to the attic was a stairwell, and not an obvious ceiling door with no ladder beneath it, I'd have thought they'd have checked it.

All MOO

 

[nightowl1975]

The thing to me about an accident like that happening in the attic is that I'd think it would be obvious. Most people don't go into an attic and close the door. They leave it wide open. You know, so you can run when you think the boogie man is coming for you. (I hate attics. lol) But seriously, if the entrance was via a trap like door in the ceiling, there'd be a ladder under it. That'd tell anyone searching for her to look up, call out, and then go up there to take a look if no response.

Then there's the door at the top of the stair entryway. You'd think it would be noticeable to anyone looking for her if it was standing open. Unless she closed it behind her to die by suicide. Still, if entry to the attic was a stairwell, and not an obvious ceiling door with no ladder beneath it, I'd have thought they'd have checked it.

All MOO

The only way the attic works for an accident or medical emergency would be if the entrance was a doorway that she closed on her way in. Maybe it was cold in the attic, so she closed it intentionally to not let the cold air escape into the house? If it was self-inflicted, the entrance could be either door or ceiling entry, with her closing either off intentionally for obvious reasons.

I’ve also heard of situations where a home was so cluttered/messy/hoarder like that a dead body wasn’t immediately obvious. This would seem less likely given her children’s ages and the older one being autistic. I would think the home wouldn’t be THAT messy, but who knows.

 

[Knox]

It's been said Karin texted someone around 2 PM that day, then the kids were dropped off around 3:30 PM. That's a tight timeline. Whatever happened, was quick.

 

[sunspun]

I think it was self harm just because no cause of death was mentioned, although a later report might provide more details of some accident or medical event.

 

[Gemmie]

I found this statement odd about her being found in an obscure place. Even if there wasn't countless searchers added to the mix, just family, friends & LE is quite a lot considering how small her home was. And add to it countless searchers? I'd like to know what this obscure place ends up being.

Ottenberg was found in an “obscure location that family, friends, countless searchers, and law enforcement walked past.”

49-year-old missing woman found deceased | Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — A 49-year-old missing woman, last seen at her home in Sunset Park, has been found. According to the Wilmington Police Department, Karin Rochelle Ottenberg was found dead at her Harrison…

portcitydaily.com

 

[lonetraveler]

I found this statement odd about her being found in an obscure place. Even if there wasn't countless searchers added to the mix, just family, friends & LE is quite a lot considering how small her home was. And add to it countless searchers? I'd like to know what this obscure place ends up being.

Ottenberg was found in an “obscure location that family, friends, countless searchers, and law enforcement walked past.”

49-year-old missing woman found deceased | Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — A 49-year-old missing woman, last seen at her home in Sunset Park, has been found. According to the Wilmington Police Department, Karin Rochelle Ottenberg was found dead at her Harrison…

portcitydaily.com

Believe me, I really, really want to find out where she was found. There is absolutely no update that I've been able to find.