Her Family Knew Something Was Wrong When She Missed Her Daughter’s Birthday. Now, They Might Have Answers

Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the death of a North Carolina mother who had been missing for more than a year.

Dana Leigh Mustian was last seen on Nov. 30, 2023, on Dorothy Drive in Warrenton, N.C., according to a statement from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. 

Family and officials said Griffin did not show up for her daughter’s 6th birthday party in early December 2023, according to CBS affiliate WNCN.

Authorities later found Mustian’s remains in a pond in Vance County on Jan. 30, more than a year after she was reported missing, per the statement.

On Feb. 18, investigators arrested Bryan David Griffin Jr., 37, at a hotel in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in connection with Mustian’s death, according to the statement. Authorities did not share whether the suspect and victim knew each other.

Authorities said Griffin has been charged with concealment of a death and is awaiting an extradition hearing at a Myrtle Beach Detention Facility. It’s unclear if Griffin has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

An official cause of death has not been released. Griffin’s disappearance and death remain under investigation, according to authorities.

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Mustian’s older brother, who remained anonymous, told WNCN in January 2024 that his sister loved her daughter “more than anything in the world.”

“It’s been a nightmare,” the brother said at the time, per the outlet. “I can’t even put into words how somebody just vanishes without a trace.”