Man Who May Have Fallen To His Death On Crowders Mountain Identified

Gastonia police are investigating after a body was found on a Crowders Mountain trail.

Investigators said some climbers made the discovery around 11:15 a.m.Tuesday. Police said it appears the man, 52-year-old Joseph Wagstaff, set out backpacking in the state park earlier in the morning because there were no cars in the parking lot Monday night.

Police have not said what they believe caused his death, but they don’t think he fell while climbing because he did not have climbing equipment. They are treating the area as a crime scene.

The climbers who found the man at the bottom of an 80-foot rock wall said it was an upsetting sight.

“I saw him. He looked like what you would think a guy who just fell off a mountain would look like. It was terrible,” said Donald Merckle.

Hikers said there are places where a person could fall, but park rangers said Crowders Mountain is well marked with warning signs.

A sign at the top of the more than 300 steps up the side of the rock wall clearly reads, “Warning: injury or death possible.”

RAW VIDEO: Body Found On Crowders Mountain