NASH COUNTY, N.C. — A woman is expected in court Friday after the remains of a woman who vanished 15 years ago are thought to have been recovered in Nash County.

• Police believe they have found the remains of Deborah Deans in Nash County.
• Deans disappeared in 2004.
• Kimberly Hancock, 49, has been charged with her murder.

The remains were located in a shallow grave in the backyard of a home on Wiley Road near Spring Hope Thursday, following a tip.

Police believe the remains to be Deborah Deans who vanished in 2004 at the age of 29.

Charged with her death is Kimberly Hancock, 49.

Hancock has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She is expected to make her first appearance in court Friday morning.

According to the “Missing Persons” profile on the City of Rocky Mount’s website, the site where deputies found the body is the same place Deans was reportedly last seen.