ROCKINGHAM — Remains found earlier this month in Cordova have been identified, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office announced late Monday evening.
According to a Facebook post, the remains found on March 9 have been identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as belonging to Linda Ann McCuiston.
As previously reported, McCuiston was last seen Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 near her home on Country Canyon Drive in the Meadowood neighborhood. The sheriff’s office issued an alert that night and a search was conducted with ground crews and drones that weekend.
A new alert was issued at the N.C. Center for Missing Persons on Jan. 15.
According to the sheriff's office, a dog found a skull on March 9 and it was submitted for identification.
"Unfortunately, this is not the outcome we had hoped for," Sheriff Mark Gulledge said in a statement. Gulledge. “Criminal investigators have devoted countless hours and resources to the investigation and will persist in seeking answers regarding her disappearance.”
A total of $5,200 is being offered for information leading to the location of Dennis Wayne Bailey.
Bailey, 67, has been missing since late December from the Ashley Chapel community along Mizpah Road. The sheriff’s office reports that he was last seen Dec. 28. However, he wasn't reported missing until Jan. 2.
When Bailey was reported missing, the sheriff’s office said he was known to walk along Mizpah Road, southeast of Rockingham, and may have been wearing a black and red puffy jacket.
First responders from Richmond and Scotland counties helped in a search for Bailey after he was reported missing.
Anyone with information on his disappearance is encouraged to call 911 or use the P3 Tips app.
