Local authorities wait for official report on elderly woman's death
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on August 2, 2017 5:50 AM
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office does not yet have an official report on what caused the death of 79-year-old Tempie Hartley, who was reported missing July 11 then found dead in a pond that same day.
Capt. Shawn Harris said that because of this, the agency is waiting to release details about the events surrounding Hartley's death.
He said he feels the official report from the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner's Office will confirm some details the agency has gathered about what happened before she died.
Hartley was reported missing in the early morning hours of July 11, after last being seen around 9:30 p.m. the day before.
The Sheriff's Office launched a search for Hartley, putting the Mar-Mac community on red alert.
Her body was spotted at about 10 a.m. July 11 in a pond behind 1982 Old Grantham Road from a helicopter being used in the search.
Where Hartley was found was a short distance away from her home at 1686 Old Grantham Road.