Body found in dunes on NC’s Outer Banks is not man reported missing, park says

UPDATE: The body found Jan. 25 at Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been identified as Matthew Marshall, 36, of western North Carolina, according to the National Park Service. His cause of death has not been released.

The original story is below.

The search for a missing Arkansas man on North Carolina’s Outer Banks took an unexpected turn when a different body was found, according to investigators.

The identity of the person and a cause of death have not been released.

“On Jan. 25, a Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitor found a deceased male in the dunes south of off-road vehicle Ramp 2,” the park said in an email to The Charlotte Observer.

“The incident appears to be unrelated to any ongoing investigations in Dare County. The National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch is leading the investigation.”

Beach Access Ramp 2 is at the southern end of the Coquina Beach parking area and provides pedestrian access to the Atlantic Ocean. Some beaches in the area are open to off-road vehicle traffic.

A search has been ongoing since Jan. 16 for Christopher Lee Palmer, 39, after the Arkansas man’s Ford F-250 was found stuck on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Traffic cameras show the pickup was in Dare County as early as Jan. 9, and it was hauling a blue and white kayak, officials say. That kayak was not in the truck when it was found Jan. 12 at Cape Point, park officials said.

Palmer’s father, Bren Palmer, says his son was dealing with a terminal illness and may have chosen to die at sea rather than face treatments. Chris Palmer was traveling with his 11-year-old dog Zoey, who is also believed to be dead, the family said in a Facebook post.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is about a 190-mile drive east from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 7:01 AM with the headline "Body found in dunes on NC’s Outer Banks is not man reported missing, park says."