A North Carolina man who was found dead last week was initially mistaken for a law enforcement dummy or Halloween decoration, according to reports.
A worker at a China Grove property called police on October 10 upon finding Robert Owens’ body. A day earlier, a groundskeeper spotted Owens, 34, but did not contact authorities because they believed the body resembled a dummy that law enforcement previously used on the grounds, WSOC reported.
Police told the news outlet that multiple agencies completed police and K-9 training at the property and an abandoned log cabin.
According to WJZY, Owens was found lying facedown and nearly naked on a driveway of a vacant home. Owens’ family alleged that a groundskeeper had mowed around his body thinking it was some sort of prop.
Owens was last seen on October 1, a week before his body was discovered.
“Construction worker told us that he had cuts and scrapes on his arms like defensive wounds, his words,” a family member told WJZY.
An autopsy determined that Owens was not assaulted and did not suffer trauma. A toxicology report is pending as his cause of death remains unclear. However, Owens’ family allegedly told police that he had substance abuse issues.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image: Robert Owens/GoFundMe]