Cause of death revealed of ‘half-naked’ NC man mistaken for a Halloween decoration
Nearly 1 1/2 years after a man mistaken for a Halloween decoration was found dead on the porch of an abandoned North Carolina log cabin, the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released his cause of death this week.
Robert Paul Owens, 34, died of methamphetamine and fentanyl toxicity, an autopsy showed. His death was ruled an accident, according to the findings.
The Charlotte Observer requested a copy of the autopsy and related toxicity and investigative reports back in October 2023 from the week he died. The paper received the reports on Tuesday.
Owens’ family last saw the China Grove man when he left his home on the morning of Oct. 8, 2023, according to the autopsy report.
The next day, a groundskeeper mowing the property at 770 Shue Road in China Grove saw the body but didn’t report the discovery, China Grove Police said at the time.
The groundskeeper told police he thought the body was “a fake dummy used for training by numerous law agencies on the property over the last few years,” according to a police news release.
The next day, another worker at the property reported the body to authorities, police said.
On GoFundMe at the time, Owens’ family questioned how he could have been mistaken for a Halloween decoration or a mannequin. He was found “half-naked” face down in the yard, in only his underwear and socks, according to the GoFundMe.
“Robert we all love you and miss you dearly,” a family member said on GoFundMe. “Gone to soon but you will never be forgotten. Your demon you battled here on Earth is over, may you rest in peace bubby I love you.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 10:13 AM.