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<\/p>\nA gardener says they mistook a naked dead body for a chillingly realistic Halloween prop when mowing the grass around it.<\/p>\n
The death of Robert Owens, 34, has been described as "suspicious" by his family after police found him lying face down and half-naked in a yard next to an empty house in North Carolina, United States. According to a GoFundMe page set up for funeral expenses, Robert's loved ones have been left with "many questions that will hopefully be answered soon".<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Delivery driver brazenly wolfs down customer's food and hands over half-eaten meal<\/b><\/p>\n
For the latest news and developing crime stories, click here. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Writing on the donations page, Haley Reavis confirmed Robert was found on the patio "stripped of his clothes and belongings". It is believed Robert's body was mistaken for a Halloween decoration by a gardener who later called in a report on the missing man.<\/p>\n
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Haley's statement read: "He was stripped of his clothes and belongings, leaving him in his underwear and socks for over 24 hours face down in the yard next to a house. <\/p>\n
"He was found once on [Oct. 9] by a lawn care employee that assumed he was Halloween decorations or a mannequin for K9 training and was never reported to authorities. <\/p>\n
"Who in their right mind mows a yard at a house that has power on and no one has lived there in a while, but the property is used for K9 training for years, can assume a half naked dead body with scratches and glass around it is Halloween decor[?]".<\/p>\n
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But China Grove Police Chief Andrew Deal has hit back at the family and claimed the housekeeper did not suspect the body was a Halloween prop. An email from the chief read: "The groundskeeper to my knowledge did not think it was a Halloween prop. However, he did not think it was real."<\/p>\n
A police statement following the death read: "At this time there is no signs of foul play but the case is being investigated as suspicious." A construction worker reported the body to authorities on October 10. <\/p>\n
An update to the GoFundMe page, from Haley, read: "We have evidence that has been handed over to the detective. If you\u2019re reading this and you were involved just now you will get what you deserve very soon."<\/p>\n
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