Remains of Missing 62-Year-Old Mother from Gibsonville Found by Kayaker in Chatham County

Gwen Collins, a 62-year-old resident of Gibsonville, North Carolina, who was reported missing in August after leaving her home on Bellflower Road barefoot and in a pink nightgown, has been identified as the individual whose remains were discovered in Chatham County in September.

In August, The North Carolina Beat spoke with 19-year-old Rhonda Collins, who described the distressing experience following her mother’s disappearance, particularly given that Gwen suffered from cataracts and schizophrenia. Rhonda recounted that upon returning home on August 9, she found her mother missing.

“I looked everywhere and didn’t see my mom, so I called my uncle, who lives next door, and asked him, ‘Have you seen my mother?’ and he said ‘no’,”said Rhonda.

Rhonda then called her father, Ronald Collins, to ask whether Gwen was with him, as they typically dined together on Fridays; however, he had not seen her either. Upon Ronald‘s arrival back home, they called 911. The police started a search and discovered footprints leading to a river.

“The footprints led to the river, but we still can’t find her,” Rhonda said. Police used divers to search the river, and we still can’t find my mom. “Most of everybody that lives on our road are family, and my cousin saw her but didn’t help her.”

Ronald told WFMY2 that he had just got off from work, taken a nap, and then got up because he had a yard to cut, telling Gwen that he would return be back in a little. Rhonda said that a cousin had saw her mother walking barefoot in her pink nightgown but didn’t try to help her, instead went back inside.

“You didn’t say nothing…you didn’t call nobody…you went back in the house? “I just don’t understand. How can you do my mother like this? My mother would never do you like this, an emotional Rhonda said.

Remains found identified as those of Gwen Collins

Authorities said that during their extensive daily searches for Gwen, they focused on the vicinity of Bellflower Lane and the Haw River, which flows into Jordan Lake. In a press conference held on Friday, officials reported that a kayaker discovered Gwen‘s remains along the banks of the Haw River in Chatham County.

Investigators from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office suspect that Gwen may have drowned or been swept away by a nearby creek that feeds into the Haw River.