Cause of death, fire still unknown

By Jonathan Weaver, Salisbury Post

Salisbury Police investigators continued interviewing witnesses Friday while awaiting autopsy results for the woman found dead after an apartment fire Thursday evening.

Firefighters found Sally Carr, 40, dead in the bedroom of an apartment on Alexander Lane in Salisbury. Crew discovered the body while battling a fire that destroyed the apartment.

The official cause of the fire has not been determined, Deputy Chief Mark Wilhelm said Friday evening.

Dennis and Charlene Wilks, both in the apartment when the fire started, escaped unharmed. Dennis Wilks reportedly is the owner of the apartment building.

Wilks told investigators he was cooking chicken shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday. He went to the bathroom, and when he returned heard Charlene Wilks screaming, that the living room was in flames.

The two left the apartment just as it was consumed by flames.

The fire gutted the Wilks' apartment, and damaged the other three adjoining apartments.

Police said Carr was a friend of the couple.

Carr has worked as a nurse, and recently cared for an elderly man at the time of her death, said daughter Lanati Tramsou, 22, of Lexington.

Carr has another daughter, 18-year-old Marilyn Leach of Salisbury.

"She's a loving ... and faithful person," Tramsou said. "If somebody needs something, she tries her best to get it for them."

The former Sally Leach, Carr had been married to Cal Carr for about 10 years, her daughter said, but the two were separated recently.

Contact Jonathan Weaver at 704-797-4266 or jweaver@salisburypost.com.