Andrew Douglas Tench was known to friends and family simply as Andy. The Charlotte Metro area gay men vanished during the evening of March 24 or in the early morning hours of March 25, a few hours after he reportedly told his sister and mother that he was going out to celebrate his birthday, play some pool and have a few drinks.
He was last seen during that time at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood known as The Bar at 316.
Now nearly three weeks later, Mecklenburg County police have confirmed that Tench is dead and an arrest has been made in connection with the case.
Following a report to the Gaston County Police department on Monday, March 25, it was determined that Tench was last seen within the city limits of Charlotte, which then put the case in the jurisdiction of the Char-Meck Police Department (CMPD).
Working in conjunction with Gaston County police, CMPD homicide identified D’Shaun Montrell Robinson, 26, as a person of interest in the case.
During the morning hours of Thursday April 11, CMPD homicide and missing persons detectives, along with the assistance of the Hickory Grove division, executed a search warrant at the residence of Robinson, who also voluntarily went to the law enforcement center in uptown Charlotte to speak with detectives. At the conclusion of the interview, Robinson was arrested and transferred into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s office and is now facing the following six felony charges: concealment of a death, identity theft, financial card theft (two counts); financial card fraud and larceny of a motor vehicle. He has also been charged with three counts of misdemeanor financial card fraud.
According to early reports from local news sources, in addition to unusual charge card usage that was found to have occurred in the early morning hours following Tench’s evening at The Bar at 316, later charges were made at a Target after his disappearance had been reported.
A copy of the surveillance tape at Target lead investigators to Robinson, where authorities confirmed they located Tench’s mobile phone.
According to reported court documents, Robinson admitted to meeting Tench at the bar. It was later back at Robinson’s residence when the two were engaged in sexual activity that, Robinson says, Tench abruptly deceased.
Robinson told authorities that he “panicked” and hid the body in a dumpster behind a hotel located in Charlotte.
On the recently created Facebook page “Find Andy Tench,” Tracii Blanton, Tench’s mother, announced sometime around 5:00 p.m. Thursday April 11 that she had been informed by police her son was dead. She explained further that a detective had told her the cause of his death was likely the drug fentanyl, and his drink was probably “spiked.”
That remains unverified, and given Tench’s own words posted on social media, a point of debate, should any additional charges be filed against Robinson.
From Tench’s Facebook page, dated May 14, 2022:
“Four months ago I was putting needles in my arms, drinking day in and day out and smoking at least a pack of cigarettes a day. I don’t know who that was. But today I am me, I am becoming myself, whoever that may be or [what] it may lead to. I have new views on life and my purpose. I am so proud of myself. I no longer do drugs, drink or smoke cigarettes. I don’t know who that was, but rest assured I took notes, wrote an essay and bid them farewell. I am grateful to be alive and for the many voices of support I’ve received from all walks of life. If anyone ever needs to talk about anything burdening their hearts, I am here as a listener, waiting to praise you for the fight you have in yourself.”
And again from June 11, 2022:
“Unlike y’all my life is spoken out loud. I don’t fear telling people what I’ve done and where I’ve been. Six months ago, needles and meth [were] my friend, today no one is. And that’s okay, because you all seek something different from me. I seek you, your true self, the lost love in you.”
Tench’s posts indicate he had relationship challenges and an ongoing battle with substance abuse, which he may not have overcome, especially considering he announced to family members he was going out to have drinks.
Blanton’s post on Facebook of April 11 inferred Tench’s body has been recovered, but CMPD and reports from media sources across the Charlotte Mecklenburg area say the missing persons aspect of the case remains active. A call by Qnotes to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s office April 12 confirmed that Tench’s body was not there, which likely explains why the missing persons investigation is continuing.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as new information is made available.