The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has announced that a 27-year-old man has been charged with First-Degree Murder and Concealment of Death. Sheriff Danny H. Rogers announced that detectives with the Major Crimes Investigative Unit charged Skyler Chance Kearns.

The charges are related to the ongoing investigation into a reported missing person, 52-year-old Stuart Lee Carter. The Sheriff’s Office received a missing person report on September 23, 2022.

Kearns was taken into custody and transported to the Greensboro Detention Center. At this time, Kearns is being held on a $1,000,000 bond. The Major Crimes Investigative Unit and Triad Blood Hounds Group searched a wooded area on Small Road near Randleman Lake Road in Randolph County, North Carolina on April 26, 2024.

During the search, authorities located unidentified human remains. The Medical Examiner’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, and Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority Randleman Lake Warden’s Office responded to assist the investigation.

The remains were removed and will be examined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. No additional details are available at this time.