Ms. Thomas was last seen on July 18, 1990 in Gaston County North Carolina.  She was reported missing to Gaston Police Department.  Her body was discovered as an unidentified headless, handless, footless decedent in Spartanburg County on August 24, 1990.  Due to the lack of evidence for identification, her remains were kept in the coroners office care until such time as she was identified.

Coroner's investigator Rick Ellis took on the challenge of trying to identify Ms. Thomas remains.  During the course of our investigation, it was discovered that D.N.A. testing had been much improved since 1990.  Other investigative efforts were made but no reliable scientific evidence until positive D.N.A. profiles were developed.  Investigator Ellis pushed to have a more definitive D.N.A. profied identified and had that evidence entered into a national database. Positive identification was made by my office on August 2013. Her family was notified and reclaimed her remains for final interment at a location of their choosing.
 

On May 13, 1998 the nude body of an unidentified female of Asian descent was found on the frontage road adjacent to the south bound lane of I- 85 ( Casual Dr). No ID or clothing was found at the scene. She was approx 30to 40 years old 5"2 , approx 130 pounds , black hair and brown eyes.The victimhas 3 round scars possible immunization scars, a larger scar onfront of left forearm somewhat oval shapedpossiblya burn scar and stretchmarks in lower stomach.


Myong Hwa/Cho Whitt (44 YEARS OLD) was identified via D.N.A. In January 2019. Her D.N.A. was entered into the national database by Corners cold case investigator Rick Ellis. An adjoining investigation with a N.C. and Spartanburg Sheriff’s office regarding the death of an unidentified child was checked and yielded her identity. Mrs. Whitt was killed by her husband in Concorde N.C. and transported to Spartanburg where she was dumped. She was a Korean national married to an American and was never reported missing. Unfortunately, her son was killed also by her husband and discarded in a N.C. County. Her remains were buried with her son in 2019.


 

On October 26,2011 the skeletal remains of a female was found by a person collecting scrap metal for re sale. The victim was located behind a house in the Startexcommunity off of highway 290 and South Main Street. An examination of the remains were conducted by Forensic Anthropologist Dr Suzanne M. Abel,PHD.Which produced the following information : The victim would appear white, a female, 40 to 55 years old, approx 5'5 and possible reddish brown hair. The victim's body may have been in the location upto 10 years, possibly had thoracic outlet syndrome which would of produced ( Cervical Rib producing pain and numbness in the forearm and hand ) and a healing fracture of the Sternum (breastbone) which may have been caused by a seatbelt during a vehicle accident possibly 3 to 8 weeks prior to death.