Sheriff Darren Campbell said: On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office detectives, deputies and Crime Scene Investigators responded to a wooded area off of Bridgewater Lane, Mooresville. The response was in reference to the report of human skeletal remains being located. Detectives were able to determined the remains were human and secured the area.
Detectives, and deputies searched the wooded area over a two-day span. Numerous human bones were located, and collected. The remains were transported to North Carolina Baptist Hospital where an autopsy was performed, and the bones were examined. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head. Due to the limited number bones located, and the amount of time the remains appeared to have been exposed to the elements, the race, age and gender could not be immediately determined.
The remains were then sent to North Carolina State University where experts, including a Forensic Dentist, and Forensic Anthropologist, spent approximately ten months processing, and examining the bones. As the remains were being examined at North Carolina State, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Detectives were searching missing person’s reports for a possible identification.
In October 2019, the University of Northern Texas Center for Human Identification notified the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, DNA extracted from a tooth confirmed the detective’s suspicions, the victim was Anastasia Talisha Meaders, who had been reported missing from Charlotte in August 2016. Anastasia whose nickname was “Star” was last seen alive in June 2016. She was 29 years old at the time of her disappearance.
Meaders’ vehicle, a black 2007 Chevrolet Impala had been located abandoned at Liberty Park in Mooresville, in July 2016. Liberty Park is located a few miles from Bridgewater lane where her remains were discovered.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into Meaders homicide. Many hours were spent investigating the case when Meaders was reported missing. The identification of Meaders’ remains has changed the focus from a missing person to a homicide.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office is resolved to identifying the person responsible for Meaders homicide, and is committed to bringing her killer to justice.
Anastasia “Star” Meaders was last seen alive June 2016 at a business in Mecklenburg County. This is an active homicide investigation, and detectives are asking the public's assistance.
A major portion of this investigation is identifying the person or persons, who gave the suspect a ride after leaving the victim’s car in Liberty Park in June of 2016.
If anyone has any information in reference to Anastasia “Star” Meaders’ disappearance, homicide or has information on how her came to be left at Liberty Park in Mooresville is asked to call the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office at (704) 878-3180, and ask to speak with a detective or they can call the Homicide Hotline at (704) 928-9804.