Bowman, South Carolina — A worried community is still searching for 94-year-old Neather Kelly after her car was discovered abandoned in a roadside ditch during last weekend’s harsh winter storm. Neather hasn’t been seen since Sunday night, and officials say the freezing conditions make every hour that passes more serious.
Neighbors first became alarmed when Kelly didn’t return home Sunday evening during Winter Storm Fern. Her family tried calling her cell phone with no luck, and that’s when law enforcement stepped in. Deputies found her vehicle on the 700 block of Magnolia Street in Bowman — stuck in a ditch with no sign of her.
Investigators believe the car veered off the road between about 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night, but exactly what happened after that is still a mystery. There have been no confirmed sightings of Kelly since then. Officials have not shared where she might have been heading or how long she had been driving when the vehicle left the road.
Sheriff Leroy Ravenell spoke to reporters with a serious tone, saying the freezing weather has officials deeply concerned for Neather’s safety. Temperatures dropped sharply during the storm, and the bitter cold makes it harder for rescuers and residents alike to search safely.
Kelly is described as about 5 feet 3 inches tall and around 130 pounds. Police say she’s a Black woman from the Bowman area, and they’ve asked residents to be alert and report anything that could help locate her. So far, there’s been no word on any clues that lead directly to her whereabouts.
Law enforcement officers are expanding search efforts each day, checking outbuildings, properties, and other spots near where her car was found — as long as it’s safe to do so. Deputies stress that even the smallest tip could help piece together what happened that night.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who saw Neather Kelly or has any information — even something that seems minor — to call the communications center at 803-534-3550 right away. They remind people not to put themselves in danger trying to search on their own, especially in bad weather.
In the meantime, friends and neighbors keep hoping for good news. The sheriff’s office says it will share updates as the search continues and asks the public to keep Neather and her family in their thoughts.
