Woman reported missing last week found dead next to her car, officials say

A 79-year-old woman reported missing last week has been found dead.Top Stories:Missing North Carolina couple found dead in woods in central Ashanti AlertGreensboro man stabbed, woman charged with premeditated murderWinston-Salem hairdresser suffers stroke while washing customer’s hairClick here for the latest interesting news.Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Shirley Haith, of Hillsborough, was reported missing by family members on Friday, May 24. Haith was last seen alive on Wednesday, May 22. Investigators believe she suffered a medical emergency and died shortly after leaving her home.Click the video player above to see the latest headlines from WXII 12 News.Over the weekend and in the days following, deputies searched for Haith by driving the streets surrounding her home and following the routes of her daily life. They then expanded the search to several miles, searching ponds, intersections and ditches in several counties. According to a news release, she lived in a rural area in northwest Orange County and rarely strayed far from her home except for errands and daily activities. Download the WXII app here and stay up to date with the latest news and weather. Under the direction of Orange County Emergency Services, deputies conducted a coordinated ground search closer to Haith’s home. A deputy driving a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle found Haith’s vehicle in a heavily vegetated area on an unkempt and overgrown gravel road. The deputy found Shirley Haith’s body a short distance from her vehicle. Investigators said Haith became disoriented, drove down the nearly trackless road and attempted to turn around. When she realized her car was stuck, officials said, she got out and walked a few more feet before falling or collapsing and dying moments later.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts Sheriff Charles Blackwood of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said, “We continue to extend our condolences and support to Ms. Haith’s family and friends. It brings us comfort to know that her death was not the result of foul play. I am deeply grateful to Director Saunders for his support. Of course, we had hoped for a different outcome, but I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and persistent efforts of my team.”NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |