MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.C. — The autopsy results of Allisha Watts, whose body was found in August 2023 near Norman, were released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday.
The cause of Watts’ death is listed as “undetermined” in the autopsy, which medical personnel conducted on Aug. 29, 2023.
The autopsy said Watts' body was “skeletonized" and “severely decomposed." The autopsy report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Watts’s skull was detached, the body was entirely decomposed, and that she was missing teeth. She was 39 when she died.
Family members have been waiting on the autopsy report for months. For them, it was the last piece of a puzzle, but, for the Watts family, that last piece led to more questions than answers.
"We are angry and devastated; we have so many questions," Watts' younger sister Tammy Utley said about the report.
The report also said findings from the scene and autopsy showed no apparent injuries, listing the cause of death as “undetermined.”
WCNC reached out to an expert about what it means for the cause of death to be "undetermined."
"You can see stab wounds and gunshot wounds on the skeletal remains," Lancaster County Coroner Karla Deese said. "When you don't have anything but the skeletal remains, there is very little to utilize in an autopsy to determine what happened. It then becomes undetermined."
Deese said most undetermined autopsies indicate answers can’t be found through the body’s anatomy.
"Someone can confess to a crime down the road, and you can use the confession, but you still won't have the path of anatomical findings to match," Deese said.
It's a hard reality to face for Watts' family.
"I'm trying to navigate through day-to-day routine, but still, this is weighing so heavy on us now," Utley said.
Watts was last seen alive leaving her boyfriend James Dunmore's Charlotte home on July 16, 2023. Family members said she had tickets to a comedy show at Bojangles Coliseum but never made it. She was reported missing by family members three days later.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said Dunmore was arrested on Aug. 24, 2023, the same day investigators found Watts' body in a remote area near a cemetery in the town of Norman. Montgomery County Sheriff Pete Herron said officials believed her body had been there since July 18, the same day Dunmore was found unresponsive in Watts' SUV in Anson County. He is charged with murder.
In January, attorneys for Dunmore asked a judge to lower his $1 million bond. The judge agreed to expedite the case, setting a 45-day window for the state to share information.
Also, in January, Dunmore's attorneys asked for more evidence, including evidence showing how Watts died. However, state prosecutors said they had no information to share. Allisha Watts' family attended court on Jan. 29, and said they were glad the case was expedited.
If convicted of Watts' murder, he could face life in prison without parole.
Allisha Watts disappearance timeline
July 16, 2023: Allisha Watts is last seen leaving James Dunmore's home in northeast Charlotte. The couple was supposed to attend a comedy show at Bojangles Coliseum but Watts never made it, family members said.
July 18, 2023: Dunmore was found unresponsive in Watts' Mercedes-Benz SUV outside a DMV office in Anson County. Detectives said he appeared to be the victim of an apparent attempted suicide.
July 19, 2023: Watts is reported missing by family after she never returned home from Charlotte. Her best friend said it wasn't like Watts to not show up at work and she immediately became suspicious.
July 20, 2023: A shell casing was found by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police outside Dunmore's home. It was for a 9 mm handgun.
July 26, 2023: Family and friends of Allisha Watts travel to Charlotte demanding answers from CMPD. Watts' best friend and a cousin said they saw red flags in Dunmore's behavior, but her best friend said Watts shrugged it off because they were "in love."
On this same day, CMPD searched Dunmore's home again looking for evidence that could be used to cover up a homicide. Warrants revealed that detectives were looking for all sorts of evidence, including guns, other weapons and DNA evidence. They seized clothing, phones, a camera, laptop and other critical evidence.
Aug. 1, 2023: WRAL-TV reports that Dunmore had a lengthy criminal history in Virginia, including convictions for assault and battery, stalking and abduction.
Aug. 2, 2023: It's revealed that a Durham courthouse granted a protective order to a woman claiming to be Dunmore's wife. The woman requested the order in March 2023 and it was granted on April 9. The woman claimed Dunmore was physically abusive and threatened to kill her.
Watts' sister Tammy Utley shared a letter with WCNC Charlotte pleading for answers in the case. Utley wrote that the community "deserved to know" what happened to their beloved sister and asked Dunmore what made him "snap."
Aug. 8, 2023: Utley shares another letter asking Dunmore to tell the truth about what happened to Watts. She also criticized CMPD's handling of the case, saying they weren't being informed about new developments.
Aug. 9, 2023: CMPD detectives address the case publicly for the first time. Capt. Joel McNelly says the department's main goal is to find Watts and to protect the integrity of the case. He revealed CMPD had a surveillance photo showing Watts and Dunmore together at Northlake Mall.
Aug 22, 2023: A 911 call lays out a clear timeline of when Watts' vehicle left Dunmore's home.
Aug. 24, 2023: Remains believed to be Watts are found in Montgomery County. Dunmore is arrested a short time later in Charlotte and will be charged with murder.
Aug. 25, 2023: Dunmore is charged with murder.
Aug. 28, 2023: Dunmore appears in court. He was read his murder charge, given a court-appointed attorney, and told he'd be held without bond.
Sept. 1, 2023: Friends and family come together at Northlake Mall to remember the life of Allisha Watts. "The pain is endless," Tammy, Allisha Watts' sister, said. "Show love to one another because you never know when the last time will be the last time."
Sept. 14, 2023: The court finds probable cause that James Dunmore killed Watts on or around July 18.
Oct. 23, 2023: Despite being listed on the administrative docket for that day, Dunmore did not appear in court.
Oct. 25, 2023: Dunmore was given a $1 million bond in court. Montgomery County District Attorney Lynn Clodfelter stated they will not seek the death penalty.
Dec. 7, 2023: Before Watts was killed, she was planning on opening up a group home for those who needed help. Taisha Calloway and her family created a foundation to continue her work in advocating for equality for those seeking treatment for mental health. Calloway spoke to WCNC Charlotte about her mission.
Jan. 29, 2024: The defense attorney for James Dunmore asks the judge to expedite the release of evidence.
Feb. 7, 2024: Watts’ mother, Evex Franklin, opens up about her daughter's death, saying “I think about how my baby was laying near a graveyard."
March 13, 2024: Allisha Watts' autopsy results listed her cause of death as “undetermined.”
If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you're ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com.
If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence, help is readily available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Resources for help are available in both North Carolina and South Carolina.
