WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsSearch for remains ends near Longs, residents worry

Search for remains ends near Longs, residents worry

LONGS, SC (WMBF) - The search for human remains wrapped up Wednesday in the Wampee Community near Longs.  Searchers say they did not find any more bones.

People like Ruby Morton, who lives near the site where the bones were found, says she's concerned that the killers came near her house.

"I just couldn't believe that he come down this road. Why would he come to this place? It's unusual," said Morton.

Stephen Kopanycia also lives near the area.

"I just think it's shocking about everything going on. I didn't know anything about it. It's just very shocking," explained Kopanycia.

uthorities said Tuseday evening they are examining two additional bone fragments found in an area of Longs where human remains were located by a search group Saturday through information given by an inmate on death row for killing a South Carolina woman six years ago.

The bones discovered Tuesday evening, police say, have not been positively identified as that of a human.  However, as a precaution, the bones found will be sent to Columbia for examination with the additional remains found Saturday.

Horry County Police Sgt. Robert Kegler says it is currently unknown if the bones are that of a male or female. However, one family says the bones may be those of their mother, Alice Donovan.

Donovan has been missing for six years, after she was kidnapped from the Conway Wal-Mart parking lot. Chadrick Fulks and Brandon Basham were convicted of killing Donovan in 2002 and sentenced to death.

Her body, however, was never found.

Donovan's daughter, Angie Gilchrist, says the Community United Effort Organization discovered the bones. Kegler noted the group was led to the bones based on information from Fulks. Even so, there is still some doubt the the bones are those of her mother.

"You're not sure if it's her, and we've been through this so many times that at this time, we don't know how to feel right now," Gilchrist said.

Jennifer Warner, Donovan's daughter said she's thrilled by the find Tuesday.

"For [Tuesday's] remains that have been found, I'm hopeful," said Warner. "I'm very, very hopeful. I hope this is my mom so we can put it to rest."

According to authorities, the bones found Saturday have already been removed from the scene of the discovery and have been sent to a medical lab to extract DNA. 

Horry County Police say it could take two to three weeks for the bones to be properly identified.

The bones have been sent for DNA testing.

Fulks and Basham also pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing West Virginia college student Samantha Burns, whose body has not been found.

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