Officials continue to seek evidence in missing persons case

BEAUFORT — The apparent resolution of a missing person case in Carteret County comes with mixed emotions for the investigators who have worked the case for nearly five years.

“I’m sad it ended this way, but I’m glad to bring some closure to the family,” said Carteret County Sheriff’s Office Chief Detective Jason Wank.

Wank said all the evidence continues to confirm that the remains of a body found this week inside a submerged Jeep Cherokee are those of George Edward Quinn, who has been missing since February 2005.

A recreational diver found the sport utility vehicle in Gallants Channel near Piver’s Island and reported it to local police, who then notified the sheriff’s office. A sheriff’s office dive team searched the site Tuesday, and the SUV was towed off site for forensic testing.

The 1998 Jeep Cherokee with a Virginia license tag JPX-6157 matched the vehicle Quinn was last seen operating.

Wank said the Jeep and all the other evidence collected has confirmed their belief that Quinn’s remains have been found.

A conclusive determination may be available soon.

Wank said the remains will be taken to the forensic pathology and anthropology department at East Carolina University for examination, and a metal plate from the leg may help in a positive identification.

Quinn had surgery at Pitt Memorial Hospital in which a metal plate was placed on the leg bone. The plate would have a number on it, and they now want to see if they can make a match with the number on the metal plate found with the remains, he said.

While investigators are waiting for positive ID, they have ruled out the possibility of any foul play in the case.

“Based on the totality of the circumstance and all of the evidence, we don’t believe there was any foul play involved,” Wank said.

In the evening hours of Feb. 5, 2005, Quinn made a phone call to his ex-girlfriend indicating that he was not happy with his present living situation. He was not seen or heard from after that.

Cell phone records indicated that last phone call came from the Beaufort area.

Carteret County authorities searched by air, land and water but were never able to locate Quinn or his vehicle.

Quinn, a Nash County native, became familiar with Carteret County while spending time at his family’s summer home in Indian Beach. He moved to Cape Carteret in 2004.

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com .