On October 5, 2015 around 11:28 a.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a boat that was located washed ashore in the Hickory Point area of Beaufort County. A small dog, crab pots, and crab bait was located in the boat. Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded and learned the boat belonged to Michael Lane Hopkins, age 52, of Old Pamlico Beach Road West in Belhaven. A family member reported Hopkins had left earlier that morning to fish his crab pots. Deputies learned Hopkins left from a boat dock located on Garrett Avenue in Bath. The Sheriff’s Office along with multiple local, state, and federal resources along with local residents and family began searching for Hopkins.
On October 7, 2015 around 11:40 a.m. Hopkins was located deceased in the Pamlico River near North Creek by local resident. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and the US Coast Guard, no foul play is suspected at this time.
