A lengthy missing person investigation in North Carolina has led to the arrest of a man and woman from Ocala after human remains were discovered at a property that they had previously resided at several years ago.
In a media release on Monday, the Gaston County Police Department (GCPD) in North Carolina announced that two suspects – 53-year-old Robin Rae Adair and 55-year-old Kenneth Richard Johnson, Jr. – are in custody in connection with a man who has been missing since October of 2020.
According to GCPD, its detectives have been working with the Lowell Police Department and Gaston County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the missing person case. The investigation recently led detectives to a home located at 613 S Church Street in Lowell, North Carolina.
During a search of this property, investigators discovered human remains, which were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and examination. “The victim’s identification will be released once the Medical Examiner completes their examination,” stated GCPD.
The police department stated that detectives discovered evidence that led them to Adair and Johnson. Both suspects formerly resided at the 613 S Church Street property.
No further details were provided by police regarding the evidence that ultimately led them to identifying Adair and Johnson as suspects in the missing person case.
“The current tenets of the residence are not involved in any way in this case,” stated GCPD. “This is an isolated case and there is no danger to the public.”
During the investigation, GCPD detectives traveled to Ocala and interviewed Adair about the missing person investigation. After coordinating with Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page, charges of felony concealment of death and felony obstruction of justice were obtained on Adair.
Detectives worked with the Ocala Police Department, and Adair was located and arrested on Friday, January 19. She is currently being held at Marion County Jail pending extradition to North Carolina.
Johnson was previously arrested in Ocala in November of 2023 for outstanding charges (retail petit theft and trespassing). He was transported to the Gaston County Magistrate’s Office, where he is currently in custody awaiting trial.
According to GCPD, Johnson received a hold on the new charge for felony concealment of death, and he is currently being held at Gaston County Jail while awaiting his first appearance in court.
GCPD states that the missing person investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to call Detective T. D. Pilkington at 704-866-3329 or the Crime Stoppers of Gaston County at 704-861-8000.