Cynthia Moreland

RALEIGH -- Human remains found behind an abandoned house in Harnett County are those of a woman who disappeared while on her way to work in Raleigh 10 days ago, authorities said Saturday.

The state medical examiner's office confirmed the remains are those of Cynthia Moreland, according to a news release from the Raleigh Police Department.

Moreland, 48, of Wendell, about 17 miles east of Raleigh, was last seen Aug. 22 when she dropped off her husband at work on her way to her own job at Progress Energy. Investigators believe she pulled into a downtown garage where she usually parked, but the vehicle left a short time later.

It was found abandoned the next day. Moreland had not been seen since.

A person who lived near the abandoned house not far from Coats found the remains, police spokesman Jim Sughrue said.

Progress Energy, where Moreland had worked since 1980; WakeMed, where her husband worked; and the couple's church offered a total of $30,000 in reward money for any information that would lead police to Moreland.

Antonio Davon Chance, 29, a registered sex offender, was charged Aug. 25 with kidnapping and obtaining property by false pretenses after using Moreland's debit card at a store hours after she was last seen, police said.

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