Christy Dunn's son had already begun serving time for an unrelated child neglect conviction when investigators finally found what they believe are her remains. Now he faces charges that include murder and destruction of human remains in connection with her death, according to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.
Background
The investigation into Christy Dunn's disappearance began on June 27, 2025, after her employer requested a welfare check with authorities. A week had passed without contact from the 52-year-old woman, prompting deputies to respond to her residence on Standridge Road in Anderson, South Carolina—a community roughly 30 miles southwest of Greenville. When investigators arrived at the home, they could not locate Dunn anywhere on the property.
For more than a year, the case remained unsolved. Detectives encountered what authorities described as several concerning circumstances from the very beginning of their inquiry: Dunn's vehicle and personal belongings remained at her residence following her disappearance, yet her debit card continued to be used after she was reported missing. The sheriff's office determined that only one person had driven her car—her son, Justin Queen.
The Investigation
The breakthrough came in July 2026 when a team of investigators and forensic specialists executed an extensive search of the property. They discovered what appeared to be human bones in a burn pit located on Dunn's own land. Detectives believe the burned remains recovered from that location are those of Christy Dunn herself.
As the investigation progressed, detectives reviewed financial records, cellphone data, and surveillance footage gathered during their inquiry. Witnesses reported seeing Queen in the woods with his mother before her disappearance. Investigators ultimately determined that an assault occurred inside the residence and that Dunn's body was subsequently transported to the burn pit on the property, where it was burned.
Before her disappearance, only two people lived with Dunn at her Anderson home: Justin Queen and her grandson, authorities confirmed.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Queen, 32, is charged with one count each of murder and destruction of human remains in connection with his mother's death
- Christy Dunn, 52, was reported missing on June 27, 2025, after a week without contact from her employer
- Human remains believed to be Dunn's were discovered in July 2026 in a burn pit on her Standridge Road property
- Investigators say Queen's debit card was used following his mother's disappearance and he was the only one who drove her vehicle
- Queen had already been convicted of child neglect and began serving a prison sentence at Kirkland Correctional Institution two days after the initial welfare check request—June 29, 2025
What's Next
On Thursday, Aug. 27, warrants were served on Queen while he remained in custody at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. He has since been transferred to the Anderson County Detention Center to face the murder and destruction of human remains charges.
The investigation into Christy Dunn's death remains ongoing, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges are expected as they continue their work on the case.