Family, friends, fellow cyclists in shock at Raleigh man's beating death on greenway

Raleigh Police Department detectives said Chauncey Weinkoop Depew Jr., 57, died at WakeMed after an assault in the 1800 block of South Saunders Street shortly after noon on Thursday.

A person using the trail found Depew seriously injured and called for help. He was on what a friend called a daily ride.

"He probably did somewhere between 10 and 15 miles a day. He did all the greenways," Annie Rothstein said.

She said she became worried about Depew when he didn't answer calls and texts Thursday afternoon.

"We talk almost every day," she said, describing Depew as "just a legitimately good guy."

Van Maanen, who regularly rides the same greenway trail south of downtown Raleigh came upon the crime scene caution tape on her Friday morning ride.

“You would think this is a very well lit area, people come through here all the time," she said.

Depew's family released a statement asking for privacy, and for anyone with information about his death to come forward.

They wrote:

"Chauncey “Chip” Weinkoop Depew, Jr. was a loving and caring father and recent grandfather. Chip was an avid sportsman who loved to cycle, kayak, and photograph wildlife. He found peace in solitude, keeping mostly to himself and his immediate family. In sum, he lived a quiet and uncomplicated life. For these reasons, our family is unable to comprehend this random act of violence in the town we have called home for nearly 30 years."

Anyone with information is asked to call Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-HELP or visit raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options.

"Please help us keep our city safe and assist in preventing this senseless violence from occurring again," Depew's family wrote.