Authorities call off search for missing SC woman Dara Watson

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter ,; Missing

Dara Watson

(Credit: Personal Photo)

(CBS/AP) MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Authorities have called off a search for a 30-year-old woman whose burned car was discovered on a dirt road and whose fiance was found dead in his home last Friday.

Pictures: S.C. woman missing, fiance found dead

On Thursday, Dara Watson's mother reported her missing, saying she was last seen Monday, Feb. 6, when she left Boone, N.C. after visiting her parents.

Watson's burned out SUV was found on Wednesday and according to the Post and Courier newspaper, her cell phone was last used around 7:30 pm Wednesday, though it is unclear whether she spoke to anyone.

About 75 people searched for Watson in the Francis Marion National Forest near where her car was found, reports the Post and Courier newspaper.

"We've had dogs searching the area looking for bodies. We've been looking for evidence," Mount Pleasant Police Chief Harry Sewell told the Post and Courier Saturday.

"We don't really know what we're looking for," he said. "We've been searching all day long."

Charleston County Sheriff's Maj. Jim Brady says the search was suspended about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Officers who searched Watson's home in Mount Pleasant on Friday found the body of her fiance, 34-year-old David Hedrick. Authorities have not said how Hedrick died.

Brady says investigators don't have any leads on other places where Watson might be.

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S.C. woman missing, fiance found dead

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by LibbyB1963 February 15, 2012 8:32 AM EST: dkb218...I understand that they may be looking for a murder suspect but she is still missing. Unless of course you are implying she murdered him, burnt her vehicle and left. I don't know the girl but that doesn't add up either. my thoughts are more along the lines that that boyfriend injured or killed her, burnt her vehicle to cover any evidence, couldn't deal with what he had done and committed suicide. Whatever the case, they need to keep looking for her.; Reply to this comment

by LibbyB1963 February 14, 2012 1:58 PM EST

Does anyone know why they called off the search? It makes no sense. What if she is alive and injured somewhere? Even if she is deceased, she deserves respect and the family deserves respect and closure.

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by ahendryx819 February 14, 2012 4:45 PM EST: Agreed. If this were my loved one, the law enforcement would have a huge problem for blowing them off like this. It's bull$h!t that they don't care enough about her to even keep a search going.


by dkb218 February 14, 2012 5:27 PM EST: It was called off because the case when from a missing person to the search for a murder suspect.


by lauren785151 February 13, 2012 6:42 PM EST: we miss you dara we've cried alot we say many prayers for you love:
lauren,; Reply to this comment

by ahendryx819 February 13, 2012 4:13 PM EST

oh that's nice. They called off the search not even a week into the investigation, after they found her burned out SUV AND her fiance dead? I know that if that were my family member, I'd be pissed.

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by lauren785151 February 13, 2012 6:45 PM EST: ya i agree she is family to me and i miss her alot i regret not seeing her more then ever.the sad thing is that her sister; brooke didn't find out abot this until thursday and i found out by a text from annother one of her friends tracy.


by ahendryx819 February 14, 2012 12:10 PM EST: I'm so sorry that you and your family have to go through this. I pray for you guys that she is found safely, but it just seems like the law enforcement are not doing their jobs:(