Crime & Safety
Kanawha County, WV Missing Woman May Be in Danger
Charleston, WV Deputies are renewing their call for information Monday in the disappearance of Brandi Nicole Dotson, also known as Brandi Nichara, whose last reported sightings were in the Charleston
By Miles Carter · 2026-09-28T19:41:03.008Z
Charleston, WV Deputies are renewing their call for information Monday in the disappearance of Brandi Nicole Dotson, also known as Brandi Nichara, whose last reported sightings were in the Charleston area communities of Big Chimney and Dunbar in Kanawha County.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff 's Office, a missing person report for Dotson was filed on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Investigators said one friend last saw her during the final week of December 2025 in the Big Chimney area.
Another friend reported seeing Dotson on Sunday, Jan. 11, at the 7 Eleven convenience store near Roxalana Road in Dunbar, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities did not indicate whether any confirmed sightings have occurred since then.
Dotson is described as 28 years old, approximately 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing about 100 pounds. She has curly brown hair that is sometimes tinted red and tattoos on her legs that authorities said appear to be homemade.
The sheriff's office said Dotson is homeless and is believed to struggle with substance abuse. Investigators said the circumstances surrounding her disappearance have led them to believe she may be in danger.
Authorities are asking anyone who has seen Dotson or has information about where she may be to contact the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office at 304 357 0556 . Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the sheriff's office website.
Detective T.D. Burks is listed as the investigator assigned to the case. The sheriff's office emphasized that even seemingly minor information could help investigators determine Dotson's whereabouts.