Remains identified as woman who went missing in Gibsonville, Guilford County deputies say

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — Officials with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office say remains found in September have been identified as a woman who went missing earlier this year.

Gwen Jenell Collins, 62, was last seen on Aug. 9 on Bellflower Road in Gibsonville.

The search for Collins was extensive with crews putting in nearly 10 hours a day in August. Officials searched several acres around Bellflower Lane and around the Haw River, which feeds down into Jordan Lake.

Searchers were worried she may have slipped and fallen into the Reedy Fork Tributary due to her vision being impaired by cataracts, and their early searches were impeded by high water levels in the area.

Gwen’s family said she had schizophrenia and needed her medication and left home without notice when nobody was home.

During a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers said skeletal remains were found in Chatham County on Sept. 21. by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.

The remains were identified as Collins.

She was found by a kayaker along the banks of the Haw River.

Officials with the GCSO believe Collins may have drowned or been swept away in a large creek near her home, which flows into the Haw River.

Her remains were positively identified through medical records and bone comparisons conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

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