‘Somebody knows what happened’: Family wants answers after woman is found dead in the woods

BOLIVIA, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) - A North Carolina family is still waiting for answers after their loved one was found dead in the woods and there’s been no arrests in the case.

Alba Wade’s family and friends still have questions after the 32-year-old woman was found dead in the woods in Bolivia on July 16.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate but has not made any arrests so far.

One of Wade’s best friends, Anastacia, says she won’t give up until justice is served. She believes someone did something to Wade and that there has to be somebody out there who knows about it.

She first met Wade as a client, when Wade was asking Anastacia for her hairstyling services.

“She came to me as a client and she became a soul sister,” Anastacia said. “She was just radiant, her energy was radiant and it was infectious.”

Now, memories are all that Anastacia has left. She says the day before Wade was found in the woods, they were actually supposed to meet up, but Wade never showed. She relives that moment often.

“I just didn’t make it in time,” Anastacia said. “Before I got there she was gone. When I got there she was gone. So I’m just left with that. It’s just like this empty space. It’s a gray area of what happened.”

Now, she’s calling on investigators to keep fighting for justice. With one month gone by since Wade’s body was discovered, she said she expected there to be some sort of update by now.

“Like there’s no closure whatsoever,” Anastacia said. “No type of anything, no leads, no nothing. Somebody knows what happened. You know everything done in the dark comes to light.”

Wade was a mother of four boys. Her son Westin said, “She did everything for me and my other brothers.”

“She was an amazing person,” one of her other sons Camden said. “She was nice, friendly, generous and caring. All will miss her loving heart. She was an amazing mom and an amazing friend. She inspired others to go outside and make a change. I hope God will be with her soul in the promised land: heaven. She will forever be blessed in our hearts no matter what. I hope God will protect her and I pray for her.”

Wade was also a businesswoman. She bred French Bulldogs and often competed with them, winning awards in dog competitions.

“Alba came to me in 2019 to buy her first French Bulldog puppy,” Wade’s kennel partner and mentor Debra D’Amico said. “From that point forward, she fell in love with the breed. We bonded over the dogs and we became the best of friends. It wasn’t about the money, it was about her love of the breed. She shined bright when she was out in the show ring with her babies. She took everything to the next level. She will never be forgotten and is loved wholeheartedly.”

WECT has continued reaching out to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office for updates in this case. As of last week, there was no update on the investigation.

Anastacia told WECT investigators told the family an autopsy should be completed in October.

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