Man Found In River Was Shot To Death, Investigators Say

MAIDEN, N.C.,None — Investigators said a man found dead in the South Fork River in Maiden was shot to death.

Canoers found the body of 23-year-old Absalon Gomez last weekend. Gomez lived about a mile from where his body was discovered, investigators said.

Family members reported Gomez, who ran a local body shop, missing in mid-December. His cousin, Erica Piscareno, said she knew something was wrong when his wife and two small children didn't hear anything from him around the holidays.

"When Christmas came, we were like, maybe he'll show up," Piscareno said. "Maybe he'll come around. Maybe he'll call. And even now, they say he's dead, (but) we're in denial, hoping he'll still come."

SLIDESHOW: Man's Body Found In River Was Shot, Police Said

Deputies said dental records were used to identify Gomez's body.

Investigators are now re-interviewing people from the missing person case filed on Dec. 18 and checking Gomez's phone records.

Piscareno said she hopes the person responsible is caught.

"(I) do hope justice is made and they go away to jail for a long time," she said.

Deputies said Gomez still had his wallet on him when the canoers found him. They think someone might have killed him near his home and then dumped the body in the river.

Previous Stories: April 4, 2011: Two Canoers Discover Body In Catawba County River

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