Blood-soaked Woman Wakes Up Under Bridge with No Memory of How or Why

By Ron Fitzwater

Details remain sketchy concerning a young, blood-soaked Hispanic woman discovered in rural Ashe County

near the Nettle Knob Road and Lower Nettle Knob Road intersection, the morning of Friday, Jan. 30.

According to Ashe County Deputies on the scene the woman reported that she "came to" under the bridge near the intersection. Upon waking up, she realized that she was covered in blood.

While only a minor head injury was identified on the woman, the amount of blood on her clothing and her statement that she had blacked out during a Methamphetamine party and couldn't find her knife prompted deputies and one North Carolina Highway Patrolman to begin a search of the immediate area for any additional individuals who might be involved or injured.

Not locating anything or anyone connected to the woman, deputies began the process of calling area hospitals and fellow law enforcement officials in search of anything or anyone who might be injured or involved.
ACSD Detective Rob Powers said that during the search of area hospitals, a person of interest was discovered.

"An unidentified Hispanic male was received at Wilkes Regional Hospital in the early morning hours of Jan. 30 suffering from 'severe knife wounds' and was subsequently medivaced to [Wake Forest University] Baptist Medical Center where he remains in critical condition," Powers said.

At press time, investigators from Ashe County were in Winston-Salem waiting to interview the man. However, due to the severity of his injuries, the interviews are on hold until the man's condition improves.

Powers stated that the ACSD will release more information to the public as it becomes available.

"In the mean time, anyone with any information that might aid investigators in piecing together the events of Jan. 29-30 are asked to contact the Ashe County Sheriff's Department at (336) 846-5633 or the Crime Stoppers line at 846-4188."