Man accused of killing, dismembering missing woman and placing her remains in plastic containers

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. (TCN) -- A 56-year-old man faces a murder charge after a missing persons investigation led to the discovery of dismembered remains in plastic containers.

According to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, in early June, family members reported Christie Ward and Charles Antwine missing from their home in Brunswick County, North Carolina. On June 14, a deputy reportedly located an unoccupied vehicle submerged at the Lynches River boat landing, and investigators learned it was registered to Antwine.

Authorities searched the address associated with the license plate in Lake City, South Carolina, where deputies "detected an unusual smell coming from the residence." The sheriff’s office tried knocking on the doors, but there was no response.

Deputies obtained a search warrant, entered the residence, and found Antwine sitting on a couch. The sheriff’s office found human remains in plastic containers that had been taped shut. According to WIS-TV, an autopsy determined the remains were Ward’s and that she died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Authorities took Antwine into custody, and he was initially charged with desecration of human remains. In an updated release, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina said Antwine now faces charges of murder and destruction of body/removal of contents of an unattended death. Antwine was transferred from South Carolina to Brunswick County on July 29, where he remains held in the detention center without bond.

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