Angry . Sad . Grieving . That 's how family members of 62-year-old Carolyn Watkins described their feelings after her body was discovered in a car , days after it was towed from a crash . `` We were wondering where she was , and she was in the car the whole time , '' said Algernon Parker , 42 , Watkins ' son . `` Even if it was a dog , that would be bad , but you know , I mean , a human ? Come on now . You do n't even want to leave your dog in the car for 2 to 3 hours . '' Watkins ' body was found inside her wrecked car at a tow yard Monday , the same day family members said they reported her missing . Her car was taken to the yard Friday after a trooper discovered it in a ditch in Johnston County , North Carolina . In his report , the trooper noted that no one was in the vehicle . That report has since been called into question , and authorities said they are working to get to the bottom of the case . `` First and foremost , we offer our most sincere condolences to Carolyn Watkins ' family , '' said Frank Perry , commissioner of the Department of Public Safety , Law Enforcement Division . `` At this early stage , our main concern is to conduct a thorough and professional investigation so we can determine exactly what happened . '' At the request of the Johnston County district attorney , the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is similarly looking into both the death and the actions of the trooper . Parker 's wife , Patricia , 43 , said the family did not initially report Watkins missing because they figured she had gone out of town for the Easter weekend . Watkins lived with her son and daughter-in-law in Clayton , also in Johnston County . But when she did n't show up or call her job Monday , they knew something was wrong . They filed a report , prompting detectives to go back to the car to search for clues . They found Watkins instead , slumped in the front seat . `` It was terrible she had to lay in that vehicle that long , '' Patricia Parker said . At first , family members were worried Watkins may have still been alive when she was taken to the tow yard , but medical officials have since told them that she likely died on impact . Watkins suffered blunt force injuries to the head and neck , according to her daughter-in-law . She blamed the trooper , who was placed on administrative duty with pay following the incident . Watkins had two children and four grandchildren . She loved to garden , cook and was described by both Parkers as someone who never met a stranger . `` I was angry , and now I 'm just sad about it , '' said Algernon Parker . `` Tell your loved ones you love them , that 's all . I did n't have a chance to do it . ''
Authorities , including the Federal Bureau of Investigation , are investigating what happened . The body of Mary Watkins , 62 , was found inside her car at a salvage yard Monday . The car was recovered from a field in Bertie County , North Carolina , on Friday .