LUMBERTON — Police have identified a body that was pulled from the Lumber River on Wednesday as a 65-year-old Lumberton man who was reported missing on Sunday.
Clyde Hatcher Jr., of 4906 Pinedale Boulevard, Lumberton, had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and police are treating the case as a homicide investigation. Hatcher was a three-sport athlete at Lumberton High School in the early 1960s, and was the starting quarterback for the Pirates’ football team.
It is the second time in three months a body has been pulled from a stretch of the Lumber River inside the city
According to Capt. Terry Parker, police received a call at 7:56 p.m. from a fisherman who had seen what appeared to be a body floating on the river. Parker said that Hatcher’s body was found near Lowry Street, about 100 yards from Stephens Park.
Hatcher was fully clothed with his wallet on him, Parker said. A blue Ford Explorer pickup truck that belongs to Hatcher was found parked nearby.
Parker said the gunshot wound was apparent, and an autopsy will be performed.
A relative reported Hatcher missing on Sunday and a Silver Alert had been issued. The alert said Hatcher might be suffering with dementia or another cognitive impairment.
Anyone with information about Hatcher’s death is asked to call Detective Brian Hodge, the lead investigator, at 910-671-3845.
The body of 21-year-old Edward Oxendine Jr. was taken out of the river on March 4. According to a sheriff’s report, Oxendine Jr. was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office by his girlfriend in January. Parker said that it has been determined that Oxendine Jr. drowned and there were “no signs of foul play.”
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