She Drove to See Her Boyfriend — Now Her Mercedes Was Found Abandoned With Her Purse Inside, But Alisha Watts Has Vanished Without a Trace
Alisha Watts, a vibrant 39-year-old business owner and dedicated community activist from the small town of Foxfire in North Carolina’s Moore County, seemed to be living a full life filled with purpose and connections. Known for her warm personality and active involvement in local initiatives, she made the trip from her hometown to Charlotte in mid-July 2023 to visit her boyfriend, James Dunmore. What was supposed to be a routine visit quickly turned into one of North Carolina’s most haunting missing persons cases.
According to details surrounding the disappearance, Watts left home intending to spend time with Dunmore. A few days later, authorities discovered her black Mercedes-Benz SUV in a parking lot at the Anson County DMV office in Polkton. Inside the vehicle was her purse, containing personal belongings, but Alisha herself was nowhere to be found. Adding to the mystery, her cellphone was later located at Dunmore’s residence in Charlotte. Dunmore was found unresponsive inside the SUV when it was first discovered, raising immediate red flags for investigators.
As days turned into weeks, family and friends grew increasingly desperate. Searches intensified across Moore County and surrounding areas. Then, more than a month after she was last seen, Watts’ remains were discovered in a wooded area behind a cemetery in rural Montgomery County — roughly 20 minutes from her home in Foxfire and along a route she might have taken returning from Charlotte. The grim find shocked the tight-knit community that had held out hope for her safe return.
Watts had reportedly been in a relationship with Dunmore for about a year. The couple had plans that included attending a comedy show together around the time she vanished. Her family described her as excited about the visit, with no indication of any trouble. Yet the circumstances surrounding her disappearance painted a troubling picture: her vehicle abandoned with personal items left behind, her phone at her boyfriend’s home, and Dunmore’s presence at the scene of the abandoned car.
Dunmore was arrested and charged with murder shortly after the discovery of the remains. The case drew significant attention as investigators worked to piece together the final hours of Watts’ life. An autopsy reportedly could not determine a definitive cause of death, adding layers of complexity to the legal proceedings. In early 2026, Dunmore entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and failure to notify authorities of a death — a legal maneuver that allowed him to accept the conviction while maintaining his stance on innocence regarding the killing itself. The resolution left many in Watts’ family and community feeling that justice had not been fully served.
Alisha Watts’ story serves as a painful reminder of how quickly a normal visit can spiral into tragedy. As a successful entrepreneur and community figure, she touched many lives, and her absence continues to resonate. Friends remember her vibrant spirit and commitment to helping others, while loved ones continue advocating for awareness around domestic safety and the importance of thorough investigations in missing persons cases involving intimate partners.
The case highlights vulnerabilities even in seemingly stable relationships and the critical role of community vigilance when someone disappears. As details continue to surface in the aftermath, Alisha’s legacy endures through those who knew and loved her, pushing for greater attention to similar stories that often go underreported.
