Woman accused of killing 60-year-old missing man after body found in Kings Mountain

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WBTV) - The search for 60-year-old Keith Adams came to a tragic end when his body was discovered Nov. 18 off Jim Patterson Road in Cleveland County.

The Kings Mountain man was reported missing Nov. 5. Local police said he was last seen on Crocker Road.

Kings Mountain Chief of Police Lisa Proctor announced his body was found almost two weeks after they announced he was missing.

Police say Darlene Black was charged with first-degree murder in Adams’ death. Chief Proctor says Adams and Black were living together.

She was arrested in South Carolina and will be taken back to Cleveland County to stand trial, police say.

“Once Mr. Adams was located and the investigation began to continue to unravel, we were able to secure first-degree murder warrants against an individual by the name of Darlene Black,” said Proctor.

Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division arrested Black on Nov. 19. She is awaiting extradition.

The cause of death has not been released. This is a continuing investigation.

“We are asking that anyone with any additional information on this case at all -- if you saw something, if you heard something, if you know something and have failed to come forward with information, please do so,” said Proctor.

The investigation is still active and ongoing and asking anyone with any information at all to contact detectives with the Kings Mountain Police Department at 704-734-0444.

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