New Developments in missing woman case

There has been a major development in the case of a missing Columbus County woman.

The Columbus County Sheriff’s office believes remains found in a remote location yesterday are those of Carol Dowless.

She has been missing since September of 2005. Tonight her family waits to learn more.

It was a waiting game Wednesday night, as Carol Dowless’ family members gathered after learning human remains found may be those of their missing relative. Renee Warren with the Cue Center for Missing Persons has been helping the family in their search.

“Behind them doors it’s bad. There is some hurting family in there, it’s pitiful.” Warren said.

Dowless was 26 when she was last seen in Whiteville in 2005. Her car was found in this Columbus County pasture, but there was no sign of Dowless.

Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten said shortly after flyers were handed out and a billboard was unveiled earlier this month, his office received information which led authorities to a remote location.

The location where the remains were found has not been released.

The sheriff’s office, the Brunswick County Search and Rescue Team, and the SBI spent eight hours searching before finding the remains, which they believe are Dowless. A source indicates they have strong evidence to that end.

Now, the young mother’s family anxiously awaits confirmation.

The remains will undergo DNA and other tests for a positive identification. This is an ongoing investigation with no arrests thus far