Olivia Seals' body has been found. Police arrested Philip Blankenship (L & R) on Friday after they discovered a body under a pile of trash at his home west of Glen Alpine. 
The body has been positively identified as that of Olivia Seals. Preliminary results of the autopsy indicate the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.Investigators said they found blood spatters inside Blankenship's house. Investigators said Blankenship even used Seals' cell phone to send her father text messages to give the impression that she had run away to Ashville.
The Sheriff said he believes Seals was killed the night she disappeared, on May 6. ***************************************************************
5-17-06
Deputies in Burke County are looking for a girl who was reported missing eight days ago. Olivia Seals, 17, was reported missing by her father on May 9th.
Authorities are afraid that something may have happened to the teen because she does not have her purse or cell phone with her and this type of behavior is not normal for Seals.
"We have questioned a number of people in this investigation," said Burkeb County Sheriff John McDevitt. "I believe these puzzle pieces are starting to form the big picture, and we hope to find Olivia soon."
Investigators said they have questioned a person of interest in the case, a 20-year-old man who told them he dropped Seals off on a road leading to her home early in the morning ten days ago. He also gave Seals' father (Left) her cell phone and purse telling him she left them in his car the night he took her home. Investigators are looking at her phone records for clues.Detectives said their search has been complicated because their investigation has shown that several people they have interviewed have lied to them. "Some of the stories our Criminal Investigations Division has been told by others have been out-and-out lies, which we can disprove," McDevitt stated. "We will deal with those individuals who are being untruthful."
* Seals is 5 foot 7 inches tall, 140 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.If you have any information in the case you are asked to call Burke County Crime Stoppers at (828) 437-3333.
Source: WCNC