Bones found near Burnt Branch Road – Determined to be Animal Remains

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

MARBLE, N.C. – On Sunday, May 31, 2026, at approximately 7:13 p.m., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suspicious incident involving possible human remains on Fairview Road near Burnt Branch Road.

A deputy arrived on scene and was shown a barrel containing bones by a citizen. The deputy was unable to immediately confirm whether the remains were human and requested the on-call investigator to respond.

Multiple officers and detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and Andrews Police Department responded to the scene.

After further examination by investigators and command staff, as well as consultation with the Cherokee County Medical Examiner and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, officials determined the remains were animal bones, not human.

Sheriff Chris Wood stated: “This call was handled quickly and professionally by our deputies and partnering agencies. We appreciate the community’s vigilance in reporting suspicious activity, and we want everyone to know their safety remains our top priority.”

At no time during this incident was there any threat to the safety of our citizens.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office thanks all responding personnel for their quick and professional response.