Skeletal Remains Found In NC Scrapyard Belong To Man Missing Since 2016

A homicide investigation is underway after skeletal remains found at a North Carolina scrapyard last week confirmed to belong to a man who was reported missing in 2016.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to Leonard Salvage in Lexington on May 14 after an employee reported finding human remains, which had been removed from a salvaged vehicle on the lot. Detectives learned the vehicle the remains had been in was transported to the scrapyard from Charlotte on May 13.

Records revealed the vehicle was linked to Lee Anthony Funderburk, who was reported missing to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department by a family member on May 31, 2016. Funderburk was 44 years old when he was reported missing. He was last seen in the Charlotte area on March 25, 2016, and was believed to be using the vehicle his remains were later found in.

The medical examiner’s office confirmed the remains belonged to Funderburk, a determined the cause of death was homicide.

The sheriff’s office said it turned over all of its findings and evidence to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which is taking over the murder investigation, “since evidence showed it occurred in their jurisdiction.”