Corpse Of Man Missing Since August Found In 80-Foot Well; Two Suspects Nabbed

Two suspects have been arrested after the corpse of a man missing since August was discovered in an 80-foot well in Connelly Springs, North Carolina.

The victim, identified as 56-year-old Howell Thomas Buchanan Jr., was first reported missing on Aug. 12. His remains were finally retrieved from an 80-feet-well on Oct. 18 after a two-month-long search.

Donna Lorrene Hagy, 46, Buchanan's ex-girlfriend, and Dwayne Alan Smith, 41, have been arrested and charged with concealment of death in connection with the incident. Hagy was issued a $50,000 bail and Smith a $75,000 bond, WMBF News reported.

On Sept. 30, investigators received several tips that led them to 4946 Old NC 18 in Connelly Springs. On further investigation, they found a relatively fresh dig site with heavy equipment on an old powerline right-of-way. On Oct. 18, an excavation of the site took place and a well was located under the fresh dirt. Officers brought in heavy equipment to dig around the well and Buchanan’s body was found approximately 15 feet deep within.

The officers had been searching for information on the disappearance of Buchanan for about two months after they were asked to do a welfare check on the man back in mid-August, according to WCNC Charlotte.

"Information obtained led investigators to believe that the person who killed Howell Buchanan Jr. died days after killing Buchanan," the sheriff's office said.

The officers believe that the person accused of killing Buchanan knew him and that the two had gotten into an argument before the murder.

“The information we have is that there was an altercation between the suspect and the victim. We don’t believe the person was alive when he was put into the well,” said Sheriff Steve Whisenant.

Buchanan’s official cause of death has not yet been released by the authorities, although speculation has arisen that blunt force trauma and strangulation led to the middle-aged man's demise. Investigators also believe that Buchanan was killed before being put in the well.

Meanwhile, Buchanan’s family have reported that someone also stole their father’s trucks.

“Don’t think he deserved all that. I don’t think no one should have to go through that. I just think they probably robbed him for his trucks and stuff. Why else would they have done it,” Buchanan’s son said.