Three Missing Employees In Garner Plant Explosion Found, Confirmed Dead

Three employees who were previously missing after the Slim Jim factory explosion in Garner on June 9 have been identified and confirmed dead.

The victims have been identified by police as 43-year-old Dunn resident Barbara McLean Spears, 33-year-old Clayton resident Lewis Junior Watson, and 67-year-old Clayton resident Rachel Mae Poston Pulley.

Spears’ body was the first one discovered. She was employed as a meat cutter at the plant.

Crews in protective suits then reentered the collapsed plant through the roof in an effort to recover the bodies of Watson and Poston.

According to search and rescue chief Frank McLaurin, the crews had to work slowly due to the instability of the structure.

Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms were expected on the scene to investigate whether the explosion has a suspicious cause. However, according to Garner Police Sgt. Chris Clayton, there appears to be no connection between the accident and a bomb threat called in on June 6.