WOMAN FINDS STOLEN VEHICLE AT BAR
Discovers boyfriend died, car missing the same day

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- It was a difficult Christmas holiday for Cherryville resident Annette Whitworth.

First, Whitworth's boyfriend was found dead inside a residence at 183 A Street Christmas Day around 10 a.m.

Authorities identified the victim as 59-year-old Grady Finandis of Owls Den Road.

According to the report, Finandis went to 183 A Street looking for a place to stay. He went to lie down in a bedroom and was discovered Christmas morning by a woman who lived at the residence.

Whitworth came to the Lincolnton Police Department to report her vehicle stolen around 4:30 p.m. Friday, and told Sgt. Spencer Summers she learned about Finandis' death a half-hour prior.

The woman told police she went to the A Steet residence and her boyfriend's residence and couldn't locate the vehicle.

Around 6:15pm Friday night, Whitworth told Sgt. Summers she was going into the Dollar General on Center Drive when she located her 1988 Oldsmobile Regency in the parking lot of the Lincoln House Restaurant and Bar.

Summers said he spoke with the bartender, who said two black males drove up to the business in the vehicle about a half hour before it was located.

Whitworth took possession of the keys, which were left in the vehicle, and the car.

The investigation into the incident continues.