Nathan Key

nathankey@newstopic.net

Investigators from the Seven Devils Public Safety Department continue to look into the death of a former Caldwell County resident and still are seeking her husband as a “person of interest” in the homicide investigation.

The body of 41-year-old Deanna Schermerhorn was found Dec. 16 buried near the Seven Devils home that she lived in with her 4-year-old son and husband, Christopher Warren Meade. Her son is safe with family members, but Meade has not been seen since his wife’s disappearance.

Schermerhorn, a former hairdresser at The Bold and Beautiful in Lenoir, had been a resident of Stone Creek Court off Union Grove Road in the North Catawba area of Caldwell County until her mobile home burned Oct. 2 and she relocated to Avery County. She lived in the mountain resort community about a week until she disappeared. Schermerhorn last was seen alive Nov. 8, 2009.

Authorities in Seven Devils conducted several searches in the county to locate Schermerhorn with no results until mid-December when her body was discovered close to her home.

Investigators from Seven Devils are trying to locate Meade, 26, who is being considered a “person of interest” in the murder investigation. They are working with authorities in eastern Tennessee and western Virginia to located Meade, who was know to have contacts in both areas. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation also has been involved with the case.

Meade is 5 feet, 7 inches in height with brown hair and possible facial hair. He may be driving a maroon 1999 Oldsmobile Bravad four-door SUV with an N.C. license plate of YXR4449.

Authorities already have issued warrants for Meade’s arrest for financial fraud (using Schermerhorn’s credit cards).

Anyone with information about the case can contact Seven Devils Department of Public Safety at 828-963-6760 or the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation at 828-294-2226.