North Carolina – A North Carolina man, who was arrested at a South Carolina residence last month following the dissapereance of his spouse, is now charged with murder in connection with the woman’s death, Cristie. He was formally arrested and extradited to North Carolina, where he currently faces charges of murder as well as destruction of a body/removal of contents of an unattended death in relation to the victim’s death, which investigators say occurred in June.
The investigation process began when family members reported both the defendant and the victim missing from their North Carolina home in early June. The missing persons report was entered by authorities into the National Crime Information Center, and investigators in South Carolina were notified due to circumstances suggesting involvement beyond state lines.
One week later, deputy conducting a routine check at a boat landing near the cemetery spotted the roof of a mostly submerged vehicle. The vehicle was recovered by emergency crews and found unoccupied. License plate records traced it back to the defendant, 56-year-old C. Antowine, whose address was registered in South Carolina.
Deputies proceeded to the defendant’s residence for a welfare check. They detected an unusual odor emanating from the home. After knocking on the door with no answer, they obtained a search warrant and entered. Inside, they found the defendant calmly seated on a couch. Around him were three plastic containers, each tightly sealed with tape and containing what appeared to be human remains.
Sheriff Joye described the scene as something out of some horror movie and one of the most horrific his investigators had ever encountered. South Carolina authorities quickly identified the remains as those of the 50-year-old victim, a resident in North Carolina. The county coroner’s office conducted an autopsy and ruled that the victim’s death was due to multiple blunt force trauma to the head.
The defendant was initially charged in mid‑June with desecration of human remains. He appeared for a bond hearing, where the judge denied bond and deferred further bond decisions to circuit court due to the gravity of the allegations and the horrific nature of the crime scene. The victim’s son, Zacary, attended the hearing and emotionally addressed the court, pleading for justice for his mother and expressing profound grief over her loss.
At present, investigators maintain that the defendant is a suspect in his wife’s death and that additional charges beyond desecration of human remains are warranted. The murder charge was formally filed upon his extradition to North Carolina. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities awaiting further evidence and witness statements before proceeding with prosecution strategies.
Throughout the investigation, the 56-year-old man reportedly offered no detailed explanation to responding officers regarding what occurred or what he knew about his wife’s disappearance. Officials say he has remained largely uncooperative, offering minimal information beyond acknowledging the location of the property.
As of early August 2025, the defendant remains in custody at the county detention center with no bond set. He is scheduled for his first appearance in county circuit court on August 19, 2025, where a judge will determine future bond status and potentially set trial dates. Law enforcement officials in both states emphasize that the case is active and that additional charges may follow as more evidence, including forensic analysis, is uncovered.
