Granville mom disappears, house catches fire

Stem, N.C. — Granville County police are investigating the disappearance of a Stem mother of two whose car was found abandoned the same day her house caught fire.

Sheriff David Smith said Saturday the remains of Kelly Morris, 28, were not found in the ashes of her burned home.

Authorities found Morris' s burgundy 2005 Honda Accord (North Carolina license plate TXP-5917) Thursday afternoon about a mile away from her home in an undeveloped subdivision. Smith said it was "a short time" after firefighters responded to the blaze at 3220 Tump Wilkins Road.

Morris' keys, purse and cell phone were inside the car, Smith said, and no one was at home at the time. Her husband, Scott Morris, was at work; their two children were at school.

Investigators have not established a cause for the fire, and the State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to assist with the case. Search and rescue dogs were also on hand Friday to search the home and the area where the car was found.

Granville County sheriff's investigators are asking anyone with information about the fire or Morris' disappearance to contact them at 919-693-3213.

"I think everybody's wondering where Kelly's at," neighbor Linda Wilkins said. "I think that's what we're all wondering."