Fairview -- May 8, 2026: A welfare check at a home on Ashworth Drive in Fairview, within Buncombe County, led to the discovery of three deceased individuals on Thursday, May 7, around 7:15 p.m. The tragic incident has sent ripples of concern through the Greater Asheville Area, prompting a multi-agency investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the subsequent search for a missing teenager who resided at the home.
Deputies with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office responded to the residence after receiving the welfare check call. Upon entering the home, they located the three individuals who were pronounced dead. As detectives began their investigation, they determined that a 16-year-old girl who lived at the Ashworth Drive address was missing and unaccounted for, adding a layer of urgency to the unfolding situation.
The search for the missing teen concluded early Friday, May 8, when she was located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, accompanied by a male. Detectives from the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office were en route to Tennessee on Friday to continue their investigation. The complexity of the case has drawn in additional resources, with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Gatlinburg Police Department all assisting in the active and ongoing inquiry.
Authorities have stated that despite the grim discovery, there is no immediate threat to the public. The names of the three people found dead had not been released as of Friday morning, and further information will be made available by the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office as the investigation progresses.