A Person County woman died while trying to leave her home Sunday to go to work in Orange County, according to her family.
Authorities found Monica Butner's body around 5 p.m. Monday, her family and the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. She was 58.
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“She was the most giving person in the world,” said Daylon Duke, Butner's son. “She would give the shirt off her back for someone, and that's why she was on the way to work [Sunday] night was to go make sure her little old people at the nursing home were being taken care of.”
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Butner called 911 around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and reported her SUV was in the floodwater on Wilkerson Road near Whitetail Run. The call disconnected moments later, the sheriff's office said. The sheriff's office said the road is where a two-lane bridge crosses the South Fork Little River.
Search crews found Butner's body about 120 yards from her SUV. The sheriff's office said fallen trees and debris covered her.
“Obviously, we hoped for a different outcome,” said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “We offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, friends and colleagues at this terribly sad time, and we ask for people to give them privacy as they process this tragedy.”
On Monday, Butner’s family had asked for help finding her. The family said she left Sunday for her health care job in Orange County, which had devastating flash flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal.
“We wish this search had ended differently,” Blackwood said. “The devastating power of stormwater caused Ms. Butner’s tragic death, despite the heroic efforts of searchers and the work of the top-notch professionals at Emergency Management who coordinated the incoming resources.
“I am grateful to everyone who assisted with this search, and I offer my condolences to all affected by this tragedy.”