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1:53 a.m. • 6-18-13

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Posted: July 17, 2008
Updated: July 18, 2008

Body found under Fayetteville bridge

Fayetteville, N.C. —

Fayetteville police have limited traffic on the Grove Street bridge near Dunn Road to one lane as they investigate some partially buried human remains.

Detectives and forensics experts were on the scene Thursday gathering details in an attempt to find some identifying characteristics of the person or determine the cause of death.

They called off work until first light Friday, but kept traffic restricted to preserve the scene.

According to police, a man called in the find just before 8:30 a.m. He reported the smell and sight of remains under the bridge.

Police did not release the man's identity.

Authorities attempted to remove the body but were unable to because of unstable ground. They suspended recovery efforts at 7:45 p.m.

Police suggest that travelers avoid the Grove Street bridge if possible. The closure was expected to last into Friday.

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15 Comments

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Latest Comments

You guys need to go fishing more. I live a block from there. That "ravine" under the bridge is called "The Cape Fear River." They're on a sandbar and debris pile at the bridge support (called a "bent")IN the river on the east side upstream. It's someone from upstream of Fayetteville. It's a river folks. It's makes sandbars and washes them away all the time. Huge sections of bank come down into the river too. There is an abandoned cemetery a couple of hundred feet from that site, but it's downstream. I'll never forget the day I came home from school to find the cemetery had been dozed flat and was for sale by a real estate. Now that's a good story to look into.

ghimmy51
July 18, 2008 10:43 a.m.

It very well could be another homeless person, as they dolive underneath the area, BUT.. as far as it being the wife of the man who called it in- didn't he say thet she was supposed to meet him there around 1am? This body has been there for a few days, at least, it is partially decomposed, so I am not quite sure it could be her. If she were missing, how did they make plans to meet at 1? It is tragic, no matter who it is, no matter how it got there.

wife-of-a-concrete-man
July 18, 2008 10:40 a.m.

Folks...I know one of the rescue workers on site. The authorities do not feel this body was buried by a person. It appears this person fell into a very deep ravine/crevice that has/had been a washout area created by erosion. It doesn't appear that anyone murdered this poor person and buried he/she there. It sounds like a tragic accident. More than likely, it is the homeless gentleman's that phoned in the call. His wife is missing and they frequented that area to sleep/rest/live. In any case, it is just pitiful.

MyKidRox
July 18, 2008 10:22 a.m.

The story actually said that it was an animal or a human when the news first broke hollylama

mrcritic
July 17, 2008 5:27 p.m.

Hmmm, who else is missing besides the Smithfield woman?