What started as a missing-person search in Lincolnton has turned into a homicide investigation after crews found the body of 70-year-old Tony Maddox in a wooded area on Tuesday, June 2, according to Lincolnton police. Maddox, who failed to show up for work, was last seen in Lincolnton on May 26, and his car was discovered abandoned the following night in south Charlotte.
Search-and-rescue teams located Maddox’s body around 4:20 p.m. on June 2 and Lincolnton Police later confirmed his identity. The department says the cause and manner of death are still under active investigation and publicly offered condolences to Maddox’s family, as reported by WSOC-TV.
Investigators say Maddox was last seen near his Nelson Drive home around 8 a.m. on May 26. His 2014 black Dodge Charger turned up the night of May 27, abandoned on Elm Lane near Creek Bend Drive in south Charlotte, according to WBTV. That discovery kicked off searches of his Lincolnton apartment and surrounding areas as officers chased down multiple leads.
How the Search Unfolded
Detectives tracked Maddox’s cellphone, which reportedly last pinged near Clarks Creek Road. That signal pulled search teams into the nearby woods, where he was ultimately found. The effort drew in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, Gaston County emergency crews and K-9 units from both North and South Carolina, per WSOC-TV.
An autopsy was completed in Winston-Salem, and investigators say they are still working to piece together what happened to Maddox. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Stephanie Allen at (704) 736-8900.
Investigation Status
Lincolnton detectives have now reclassified the case as a homicide and are working with state agents on the active investigation, according to a police news release reported by WCCB Charlotte. No arrests or suspects have been publicly identified, and officials say they will share more details when they can.
With multiple agencies involved and the autopsy completed, forensic work and evidence processing are expected to take time, authorities told WBTV. In the meantime, police are urging residents to check home surveillance systems and report anything that might help move the case forward.
