I-85 crash turns odd when driver mentions she has a body at her home, NC cops say

An interstate crash investigation took an unexpected turn when one of the drivers told police she was keeping someone’s body at home, according to investigators in Gaston County, North Carolina.

The unusual statement was made by driver Marlo Wallace, after an Oct. 26 crash involving her vehicle and a semi-truck on Interstate 85 near Cox Road, Gastonia police said in a Nov. 8 news release.

“After being transported to the hospital, Wallace informed traffic investigators that they would find a deceased person at her residence located ... in Dallas, North Carolina,” police said.

“Officers from the Gastonia Police Department responded to the address and discovered the body of 23-year-old Aaliyah Michelle Fortner, who had been living at the home under the care of Wallace.”

A cause of death has not been released, and investigators did not provide an estimate as to how long Fortner had been dead.

The investigation has resulted in Wallace being charged with concealment of death from unnatural causes, patient abuse and neglect and felony assault of an individual with disabilities, police said. Her bond was set at $1.5 million bond, police said.

A second suspect, Vera Williams, has been charged with patient abuse and neglect, and felony assault of an individual with disabilities, police said. Williams’ bond was set at $1 million bond, officials said.

Dallas is about a 30-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.

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This story was originally published November 9, 2025 at 5:29 AM with the headline "I-85 crash turns odd when driver mentions she has a body at her home, NC cops say."