North Carolina caretaker arrested after woman's body found buried in concrete

AVERY COUNTY, N.C. (TCD) -- A 53-year-old caretaker was arrested this week after the body of the woman she cared for was found buried in concrete in the victim’s basement.

According to WCNC-TV, Lynn Gay Keene was found entombed in concrete in her home on August 6. Keene’s family told the Avery County Sheriff’s Office on July 30 that they had not spoken to or heard from her since June 14.

WCNC reports deputies went to Keene’s residence and saw that her car was missing, though the rest of her house was secure. On August 2, the Cherokee Police Department reported that they discovered Keene’s 2000 Lincoln Town Car. Officers searched it and found keys underneath the seat. The Avery Journal-Times reports investigators also found two empty 80-pound bags of concrete.

Deputies from the Avery County Sheriff’s Office searched Keene’s home on August 3. WBTV, citing a search warrant, reports detectives entered the basement and saw "a large amount of flies and that’s an indicator of something deceased." Investigators broke through the concrete and discovered the human remains.

According to WBTV, investigators used dental records to identify Keene as the victim. She was reportedly strangled with a belt and had a fractured skull from "blunt force injury to her head."

The Avery Journal-Times reports Elizabeth Carserino was named as a person of interest, and she was found at a hospital in western North Carolina. Carserino, who reportedly went by the name Elizabeth Freeman, was arrested August 8 and charged with murder, larceny of a motor vehicle, identity theft, and financial card theft, according to information provided to the Avery Journal-Times by the Avery County Sheriff’s Office.

WSOC-TV reports Carserino was a caretaker for Keene after Keene fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Carserino, however, was reportedly fired in June but allegedly lived in Keene’s home until July, according to WSOC.

WCNC reports Carserino was booked into the Avery County Jail and was being held on a secured bond of $1,625,000.

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