The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a body was found in the Dan River near Eden on Sunday evening. Sheriff Sam Page said the body was discovered in the Dan River near the intersection of Bethlehem Church Road and Periwinkle Road.Capt. Jonathan Cheek said a group of kayakers called 911 after spotting a body in the water around 5 p.m. Investigators confirmed that the recovered body was male. Cheek also said that based on its condition, investigators believe the body had been in the river for some time, though Cheek did not specify the duration. “We would request that the public, if they have a loved one or friend they haven’t spoken to, contact your local law enforcement agency and notify them of that. It could assist us in this particular case,” Cheek said. “Right now, we have to depend on forensics to help us ID this individual.” Deputies are currently working on one missing person’s case in Rockingham County, but Cheek confirmed that the missing person is female, meaning the body found in the river is not related to that investigation.The body will be sent to the chief medical examiner in Raleigh for identification. Officials are asking residents to check in on loved ones and neighbors’ whereabouts to assist in the investigation. Cheek also advised those planning to use the river to be careful.This discovery is the third set of human remains found in Rockingham County in the past six weeks.Other human remains investigationsTwo other sets of human remains were discovered last month in Summerfield and Reidsville. Summerfield case:On April 16, deputies searched a wooded area off U.S.-158 near Price Mill Road in Summerfield. According to the sheriff’s office, a man walking on his property noticed human remains in the woods. Investigators later identified the remains as Harry Lee Willard, who was reported missing in January 2025. Reidsville case:Exactly one week earlier, on April 9, police in Reidsville found human remains in Ruffin Rock Quarry off Highway 29 after receiving a tip. Police said they had received a similar tip last year but were unable to locate remains at that time. This time, cadaver dogs were used in the search. All three of these cases are still active investigations, but Capt. Cheek said he does not believe any of them are related.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. —

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a body was found in the Dan River near Eden on Sunday evening.

Sheriff Sam Page said the body was discovered in the Dan River near the intersection of Bethlehem Church Road and Periwinkle Road.

Capt. Jonathan Cheek said a group of kayakers called 911 after spotting a body in the water around 5 p.m.

Investigators confirmed that the recovered body was male. Cheek also said that based on its condition, investigators believe the body had been in the river for some time, though Cheek did not specify the duration.

“We would request that the public, if they have a loved one or friend they haven’t spoken to, contact your local law enforcement agency and notify them of that. It could assist us in this particular case,” Cheek said. “Right now, we have to depend on forensics to help us ID this individual.”

Deputies are currently working on one missing person’s case in Rockingham County, but Cheek confirmed that the missing person is female, meaning the body found in the river is not related to that investigation.

The body will be sent to the chief medical examiner in Raleigh for identification. Officials are asking residents to check in on loved ones and neighbors’ whereabouts to assist in the investigation.

Cheek also advised those planning to use the river to be careful.

This discovery is the third set of human remains found in Rockingham County in the past six weeks.

Other human remains investigations

Two other sets of human remains were discovered last month in Summerfield and Reidsville.

Summerfield case:

On April 16, deputies searched a wooded area off U.S.-158 near Price Mill Road in Summerfield.

According to the sheriff’s office, a man walking on his property noticed human remains in the woods.

Investigators later identified the remains as Harry Lee Willard, who was reported missing in January 2025.

Reidsville case:

Exactly one week earlier, on April 9, police in Reidsville found human remains in Ruffin Rock Quarry off Highway 29 after receiving a tip.

Police said they had received a similar tip last year but were unable to locate remains at that time. This time, cadaver dogs were used in the search.

All three of these cases are still active investigations, but Capt. Cheek said he does not believe any of them are related.