More Human Remains Found Near Poors Ford Road in Rutherford County

Investigators in Rutherford County have located human skeletal remains in the Poors Ford Road area, where a bone believed to be a human femur was found last week. The initial discovery prompted law enforcement to search the surrounding area for additional remains.

According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the bone was sent to the North Carolina State Medical Examiner’s Office for further evaluation and identification. On Sunday, October 20, investigators with the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division conducted another search near the 2800 block of Poors Ford Road.

The area is across from the location where Ricky James Watson, a Rutherford County man missing since June, was last seen. During the search, investigators discovered a large portion of human skeletal remains in a heavily wooded section of the property. Those remains have also been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for analysis and identification.

Sheriff’s Office officials said family members have been notified. Based on evidence gathered and interviews conducted during the investigation, authorities stated that no foul play is suspected at this time.

While this discovery may help close the case of Ricky James Watson’s disappearance, another Rutherford County man remains missing. James Donald “Donnie” Dover, 44, was last seen around 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2022, getting into a blue SUV at the Speedway on West Trade Street in Forest City.

According to previous reports, Dover’s girlfriend told investigators that someone threw acetone in his face and left him on the side of the road, and that he was yelling he could not see. Dover is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and approximately 175 pounds.

Anyone with information about Dover’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.