Florida man, woman concealed the remains of NC man missing since 2020, police say
This story was updated at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 25, 2024, with information about a Go Fund Me for the funeral of Sammie “Chip” Davis.
A Florida man and woman are in jail after they were accused of concealing the remains of a North Carolina man who has been missing since October 2020.
Tuesday night, police said the missing man was identified as 53-year-old Sammie Bruce “Chip” Davis by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Police released no additional information, including the cause of death.
Last weekend, Gaston County Police Chief Stephen Zill said Kenneth Richard Johnson Jr., 55, and Robin Rae Adair, 53, were arrested in the case.
Police found human remains in a home in the 600 block of South Church Street in Lowell, Zill said in a news release late Friday.
Johnson and Adair lived in the same home as Davis, whose disappearance police investigated for more than three years, Zill said.
Police said they “discovered information” that led them to the home, Zill said, declining to detail the information or say when police obtained it.
“Mr. Davis was previously reported missing in late 2020,” Zill said in a news release.
Zill also declined to say what evidence led police detectives to identify Johnson and Adair as suspects.
Police charged Johnson with felony concealment of death. Johnson was arrested on Nov. 18 in Ocala, Florida, according to the news release. He was homeless at the time, police said.
Ocala police found and arrested Adair on Friday, Zill said. She was charged with concealment of death and obstruction of justice, also a felony.
She was booked into the Marion County, Florida, jail just after 11 p.m. Friday and awaits extradition to North Carolina, Zill said.
Other people now live in the home where the remains were discovered, Zill said.
“The current tenants of the residence are not involved in any way in this case,” he said. “This is an isolated case and there is no danger to the public.”
The Lowell Police Department, Gaston County Police Department and Gaston County District Attorney’s Office have jointly investigated the case, Zill said.
Police urged anyone with information about the case to call Gaston County Police Detective T.D. Pilkington at 704-866-3329 or Crimestoppers at 704-861-8000.
Go Fund Me
The family of Sammie “Chip” Davis has started a Go Fund Me to help pay for his funeral.
“He was a beacon of love, laughter, and kindness, and his untimely departure has left a void that can never be filled,” his family said on the site.
This story was originally published January 20, 2024 at 9:31 AM.