Woman reported missing during Chantal rainfall found dead in Orange County
The body of a Person County woman who was reported missing Sunday during Chantal’s deluge has been found, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday night.
The woman, identified Tuesday as Monica Butner, was on her way to work Sunday when she got caught in floodwaters, according to a news release.
Butner called 911 about 10:30 p.m. to report she was stuck on Wilkerson Road near Whitetail Run in the Cedar Grove community, according to a news release. Her call was dropped moments later.
Her SUV was later found unoccupied by firefighters near Whitetail Run, north of Hillsborough, where a two-lane bridge crosses the South Fork Little River.
The search for the 58-year-old woman continued Monday, ending when the South Orange Rescue Squad found her about 5 p.m. about 120 yards downstream from her vehicle.
She is at least the fourth fatality from Tropical Depression Chantal.
- An 83-year-old woman died Sunday in Chatham County when her car was swept away by floodwaters, The N&O previously reported.
- Also in Chatham County, authorities have been searching for two boaters who went missing on Jordan Lake Sunday around 5 p.m. One of the boaters was found Tuesday morning.
- An unnamed person in Mebane in Alamance County also has been confirmed as a casualty of the storm.
This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM.