Body in Towed Car: Missing Woman Carolyn Ann Watkins Found Dead at Impound Lot Three Days after Tragic NC Crash, Investigation Underway [VIDEO]

Reports confirm that the lifeless body of 62-year-old Carolyn Ann Watkins was found in the front seat of her Pontiac Sunfire on Monday (April 1) - three days after the car was towed away from a tragic crash site near Smithfield, NC. Watkins had been missing since Thursday and the wreck occurred on Friday - initial reports from the crash scene claim that "no driver" was found in the car at the time of the accident. A police investigation is currently underway in an attempt to discover how Watkins' dead body went unnoticed for three whole days at Dustin's Towing and Recovery impound lot.

Watkins was last seen on Thursday and her son Al Parker reported her missing early Monday after she failed to show up for work. A Smithfield police officer finally discovered Watkins' body at the impound lot after he went back to search the vehicle for clues about her disappearance.

According to an accident report filed on Friday, Watkins' 2000 Pontiac Sunfire crashed into a ditch on a road 30 miles outside of Raleigh. North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Marlon Williams reported that both air bags had deployed, but noted that "No driver at the scene of this collision." The highway patrol had a local towing company move the car to a local parking lot for storage, where Watkins' body remained unnoticed for three days.

It remains unknown when Watkins (a grandmother of four) actually died.

Watkins' son Parker told reporters on Tuesday, "I'm thinking she could still have been alive. How do you not look in the car? When you pulled the car out, how do you not see a body in the car?" Family members insist that Watkins was in good health, and are mystified as to what made her veer off the road.

Patrolman Williams has since been placed on paid administrative duty pending the outcome of the State Bureau investigation.

"We will release accurate information to the public as soon as available and appropriate," Public Safety Commissioner Frank Perry said in a brief written statement. "At this early stage, our main concern is to conduct a thorough and professional investigation so we can determine exactly what happened."

Authorities report that they found marijuana in Watkins' purse after it was discover at the impound lot. An autopsy and investigation are currently underway.

Thoughts and condolences go out to Watkins' family and friends during this time of tragedy.