In March 2023, 41-year-old Candice Jean Aufrecht was reported missing by her family after she was last seen at a restaurant in Lincolnton, North Carolina, on March 8. Her disappearance sparked a prolonged period of uncertainty and a dedicated search for answers by her loved ones. Her husband, William Aufrecht, though separated from her at the time, frequently traveled from Charleston to Lincoln County to distribute flyers and search for her.
He described her as someone who smiled all the time, never met a stranger, and could make friends with anybody.
The initial investigation into Candice's disappearance was handled by the Lincolnton Police Department. For nearly two years, her family held out hope, but the search came to a tragic end in February 2025 when her remains were discovered along a Gaston County roadway, just outside the town of Dallas. An autopsy revealed that Candice's death was a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound to the head. Her remains were found inside a large toolbox that had been wrapped in a blue tarp and left in a wooded area. Identification was made using dental records and personal belongings.
Following the discovery, the homicide investigation was transferred to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, which worked in collaboration with the Gaston County Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The extensive investigation involved numerous interviews and searches across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. In July 2025, authorities arrested Zachary William Ramey, a 35-year-old from Blairsville, Georgia, and charged him with first-degree murder and concealment of death in connection with Candice's case. The case overview is one of a distressing disappearance that transitioned into a multi-agency homicide investigation, ultimately leading to an arrest and bringing a painful, partial closure to a family left searching for justice.Last Seen: Mar 8, 2022
