The death of Lillian Terry of Bullock has officially been ruled “asphyxiation from drowning,” according to Granville County Sheriff Brindell B. Wilkins, Jr. and the findings of the Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh.
Mrs. Terry’s body was discovered on Saturday evening, October 15th after the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to her residence at 9524 Farrow Lane. Tenants who rented the upstairs garage apartment of the Terry home reported finding Terry floating face down at the shoreline of the lake behind her home and alerted authorities through a 911 call. The call came in at 4:20 p.m. Saturday.
Wilkins stated that Hurricane Matthew may have played a role in Terry’s death.
“The water was still high after the storm, and we believe Terry was attempting to get out to her boat dock, which was about 40 yards out in the water,” Wilkins said. “She had on chest waders when she was found.”
Due to the condition of the body when it was discovered, it was estimated that Terry’s body had been in the water for several days, Wilkins added. The water surrounding the dock at that time (Saturday) was also estimated at about seven feet deep.
Lillian Terry was the wife of John Terry, who was reported missing by a co-worker in September of 2015. A UPS employee, Mr. Terry did not show up for his shift and had not reported for work in three days when his disappearance was reported to authorities last year. His whereabouts, according to Wilkins, are still unknown.
“We have been proceeding with caution in investigating this case, ” Sheriff Wilkins said on Wednesday. Because of the circumstances surrounding this entire investigation, we had to look at all possibilities to eliminate any questions that may have arisen around this particular incident.”
The autopsy report released from the Medical Examiner’s Office this week has led Wilkins to the conclusion that no foul play is suspected in Mrs. Terry’s death.
No details have yet been released concerning funeral arrangements.