Decomposed body found near Rowan-Davidson border

Published 12:10 am Monday, December 14, 2015

POOLETOWN — Two bow hunters this weekend found a decomposed human near the border of Rowan and Davidson counties.

The hunters reported the find Saturday afternoon. By Sunday morning, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was able to confirm the bow hunters found a completely decomposed human body.

Body parts were scattered over a hill with waist-high grass near the intersection of Bringle Ferry and River roads. The Sheriff’s Office taped off an area including the grassy hill and portions of a wooded area. Lt. Chad Moose, of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, said the body had decomposed to the skeleton. Moose said the body likely remained in the area several months before being found by the hunters. Animals may have been the reason why body parts were spread out, he said.

Moose said the body belonged to an adult. He ruled out the possibility the body belongs to Erica Parsons, who’s been missing since 2011.

The Sheriff’s Office on Sunday was unable to provide an identity for the decomposed body. The remains will be sent to the NC State Medical Examiners Office for further examination.

Moose said the Sheriff’s Office would use its missing persons list for identities associated with the decomposed body.

Alcoa Power Generating, which operates the nearby High Rock Lake Dam, owns the property where the decomposed body was found.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.