The tranquility of Brunswick County, North Carolina, was shattered on July 15th, 2023, as 32-year-old Elba Joe Dorene Wade, a beloved mother of four and passionate exotic bulldog breeder, vanished without a trace. Her disappearance sparked a massive search effort, uniting the community in a desperate race to find her. But their hopes turned to grief when Elba was discovered dead in a wooded area, leaving her family and friends grappling with the mystery surrounding her untimely demise.
Elba’s disappearance unfolded as she planned to meet her friend, Anastasia, a local hair stylist who had formed a deep bond with Elba. Their text exchanges, seemingly ordinary at first, took on a haunting tone in retrospect. Elba’s messages, usually bubbly and full of life, seemed rushed, hinting at a possible struggle unbeknownst to Anastasia.
Upon arriving at their designated meeting spot, Anastasia was met with an unnerving silence. Elba was nowhere to be found. As concern morphed into fear, a call was made, setting in motion a frantic search that would consume the community for days to come.
Over a hundred first responders, including fire departments, sheriff’s offices, and volunteers, tirelessly scoured the area, their determination fueled by the dwindling hope of finding Elba safe. Helicopters buzzed overhead, casting searching beams into the dense woodland, while four-wheelers navigated the unforgiving terrain, their riders desperately seeking any sign of the missing mother.
The investigation narrowed its focus to a secluded area known as Colonel Landing in Bolivia, North Carolina. It was within these woods that Elba’s lifeless body was recovered, marking a tragic end to the search but igniting a burning desire for answers.
Adding to the heartbreak, sources close to the investigation suggest that Elba’s four-year-old son, Carson, was the one who alerted authorities. The young boy, having endured an unimaginable ordeal, reportedly wandered for hours through the woods after his mother’s disappearance, eventually finding his way to a stranger’s doorstep, his tiny hand knocking for help.
While the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office has remained tight-lipped, stating only that Elba’s death is still under investigation and there is no immediate threat to the public, her friends and family are far from convinced. Caitlyn Maynard, a close friend who shared a special bond with Elba, voiced her suspicions, stating, “My friend just got murdered, like flat out murdered in the woods.”
The lack of transparency surrounding Elba’s death has only fueled speculation. The cause of death remains undisclosed, and no suspects have been named, leaving her loved ones in a painful limbo, tormented by unanswered questions and the chilling possibility that Elba met a sinister end.
Adding to the anguish is the fact that Elba’s loved ones were denied an open casket viewing, a final goodbye stolen from them. This detail, coupled with the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, has cemented the belief among those who knew her best that foul play was involved.
Elba’s loved ones are left grappling with the horrifying possibility that she was targeted, lured to the secluded location where she was found. Her injuries, severe enough to preclude an open casket, paint a grim picture of violence, leaving her friends to wonder if someone they knew was responsible for this horrific act.
Driven by grief and a burning need for justice, Elba’s friends and family have become her voice, sharing her story with local media outlets and pleading for anyone with information to come forward. Their message is clear: Elba’s life, vibrant and full of love for her children, was tragically cut short, and she deserves justice. Someone out there knows what happened in those woods, and their silence only amplifies the pain of a family robbed of a mother, a friend, and a future filled with her radiant spirit.
