Lincoln County Sheriff's detectives have recovered the body of a missing Lincoln County woman. Mary Walters Cook, 59, of Hamlet Street, Lincolnton, had been killed and her body tossed off a bridge on Boy Scout Road.
Thursday night (Sep. 26th) detectives executed a search warrant at the residence of Steve Allen Avery, 60, 2242 Drive Inn Road, Lincolnton. During the search blood stains were found in the home. Avery then confessed to shooting Ms. Cook with a .22 caliber rifle and transporting her body to the area where she was found. He then allegedly drove her truck back to Johnny's Mexican Restaurant on Highway 150 and parked it behind the business.
A missing person's report was filed Wednesday (Sep. 25th) by family members who said they had not heard from Ms. Cook since Monday (Sep. 23rd).
Ms. Cook's vehicle was located Wednesday at Johnny's Mexican Restaurant. Security footage from the business showed Ms. Cook exit her vehicle and walk toward the highway in the early morning hours of Wednesday.
Avery has been charged with first degree murder and is being held in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center without bond.
