Authorities suspect charred remains could be Fort Bragg nurse

Sneads Ferry, N.C. — Crews fighting a brush fire Sunday found charred human remains, and investigators suspect they are those of a missing Fort Bragg nurse.

Crews found the remains off Old Folkstone Road, near Chadwick Acres Road in Sneads Ferry, near Camp Lejeune.

Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson told WRAL there is "strong" information that the remains could be those of 2nd Lt. Holley Lynn Wimunc, of Lafayette, La.

Wimunc was declared missing on Thursday after a fire was set at her apartment near Fort Bragg. The 24-year-old worked as a nurse at Womack Army Medical Center.

Wimunc recently was divorced from a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, Cpl. John Wimunc. Fayetteville police and State Bureau of Investigation agents spoke with him last week during their investigation.

"We did in fact find human remains in what appeared to be a shallow grave. (The remains) are being guarded now by law enforcement officers. The crime scene will be processed first thing tomorrow morning," Hudson said.

Asked why he thought they were Wimunc's remains, Hudson said, "Well, we have a lot of information, but I cannot share that with you at this time."

Officials responded to a call Thursday about the strong odor of gasoline at the Morganton Place Apartments in Fayetteville and found a smoldering fire that had burned two bedrooms. Police are calling it an arson and missing person's investigation.

"I feel confident that this case will end in an arrest," Hudson said. He later added that there could be more than one arrest.

Wimunc arrived at Fort Bragg in August 2007, base officials said.

Also last week, authorities said a second autopsy of a pregnant Fort Bragg soldier found dead in a Fayetteville motel June 21 confirms she was the victim of a homicide.

Army Spc. Megan Touma, 23, of Cold Spring, Ky., was found June 21 in the bathroom of a motel room after a maintenance supervisory smelled a foul odor coming from her room. The cause of her death hasn't been released.

For more on this developing story, tune in to WRAL's Morning News, and stay logged on to WRAL.com.