UPDATE: The deceased individual has been identified as Marty Joe Bryan, a 48-year-old male, out of Valdese. He was reported missing from Valdese on March 15, 2026.
Original Release from March 18, 2026:
On March 18, 2026, at approximately 1:10 p.m., the Burke County 911 Center received a call from a concerned motorist reporting a person lying face down on the side of Interstate 40, near the Exit 113 westbound off-ramp. First responders, EMS and Burke County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area and located a deceased white male in the tall grass beside the roadway near the Exit 113 bridge.
The Medical Examiner’s Office has been notified and will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of death. The identity of the individual is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. No further information will be released at this time as the investigation is ongoing.