A Nash County K-9 who participated in many memorable searches has died.

The human remains detection K-9 named Orca Katargo died in September after a rupture in her abdomen, according to a Facebook post from the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Other WRAL Top Stories

“She was my heart dog,” said deputy Jack Thorpe, who was Ocra’s hander. “Like, of all the dogs I've ever worked or ever had in my life, she was my favorite. “

The sheriff’s office described her as “an amazing dog” that worked on several high-profile cases over the years.

“This dog would go and never stop,” the post read in part. “She retired early to stay with her handler Jack Thorpe from injury.”

Orca worked on many cases covered by WRAL News, including the disappearance of Abby Patterson, a Lumberton woman who went missing in 2017 and still hasn’t been found. Orca also worked  the death and disappearance of 3-year-old Mariah Woods as well as the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Hania Aguilar in 2018.

“She was very good at human remains detection, so we worked several cases with her, and were able to solve several cases with her,” Thopre said of Orca.

The sheriff’s office said Orca retired in 2022 and moved in with Thorpe’s son and daughter-in-law in Garner where she lived a “happy life.” 

“It’s hard to put into words,” Thorpe said of his relationship with Orca.

Thorpe recalled the conversations he and deputies had with Patterson’s family.

“We don't usually have a lot of conversations with families, but for whatever reason, Abby's family, we did,” Thorpe said. “They got to know Orca, and that was a special relationship between the two of them.”

Even when Orca couldn't bring closure, Thorpe said she brought comfort. 

“Orca was only 9 years old and she was in seemingly good health,” Thorpe said. “None of the vet exams or anything indicated that she wasn't.

“And then, all of the sudden, and kind of out of nowhere, I got a call that said that they're taking her to the vet. And when she got to the vet, we found out that she had a tumor that had ruptured inside her spleen.”

Thorpe said Orca won't be forgotten.

“She did a job,” Thorpe said. “She did it well, and she was also very loving. And, I want people to know about her.”