CHINA GROVE, N.C. — China Grove Police responded to an abandoned log cabin last week after a body was found. A groundskeeper initially saw what he believed to be a dummy used for law enforcement training, police said.
It happened on Tuesday, Oct. 10 on Shue Road.
Police said the day before, the groundskeeper had seen what he believed to be a fake dummy while he was mowing the property. He believed this, police said, because multiple law agencies had used the property for training over the past few years. The groundskeeper did not report what he saw.
Then, the next day, another worker on the property called police to report the body.
The person has been identified as Robert Paul Owens, 34.
An autopsy was conducted on Friday in Raleigh, with initial findings ruling out any signs of assault or trauma. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, and officials are waiting on the toxicology report results.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the China Grove Police Department or email Detective C. Frantz at cfrantz@chinagrovenc.gov.
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