BCSO Death Investigation Leads to Multiple Charges

Buncombe County -- December 20, 2024: Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: BCSO Detectives have charged Michael Keith

Shell with concealing/failing to report a death, 

and trafficking methamphetamine. On Thursday, December 19th,  Deputies with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call to assist with a man with breathing problems at 1130 Barnardsville Highway just after 5:30 a.m. Before

arriving, our Deputies were advised that a female passenger was deceased in the vehicle. Detectives found 83.2 grams of methamphetamine in Shell’s possession.
Michael Keith Shell is charged with:

-Traffick in Methamphetamine
-Possess Drug Paraphernalia
-Conceal/Fail Report Death
Shell is being held in the Buncombe County Detention Center on a $50,000 secured bond.

An autopsy is being performed on the victim, Natasha Marie Sinclair.

Editor's Note: A  criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.