Local News

Deputies identify body found in Orange County, cause of death unknown

Deputies identified the person as Susan Margaret Horkay, who goes by the name of Skylar Brooks. The person was 35 and lived in Greensboro.

Posted 2023-10-15T20:14:11+00:00 - Updated 2023-10-17T06:14:15+00:00

Orange County deputies investigate death as family looks for answers

Willie Daniely

, WRAL reporter

Orange County deputies are investigating after a person's body was found on Sunday.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, a man walking his dog off Heron Pond Drive found the body of 35-year-old Skylar Brooks just before 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Deputies identified Brooks on Monday.

Brooks' mother, Heather Cutlip, said she last saw them on Friday. Cutlip said Brooks had told her they were going to see their friends.

"Then on Sunday I get this news," Cutlip said.

Cutlip described Brooks as someone who loved children, enjoyed cooking and was “there for everybody, no matter what."

"[Skylar] loved to cook," Cutlip said. "[Skylar] worked in many restaurants, and [was] aspiring to be a chef one day."

The cause of Brooks’ death is unknown.

Cutlip said the family has started a GoFundMe to help with the cost of Brooks' burial services.

The sheriff’s office is asking those who may have seen anything unusual on or near Heron Pond Road over the weekend to call Investigator Patrick Gilchrist at 919-245-2928.