Gastonia, N.C. - May 18, 2023: Gastonia Police Detectives have identified the man who was found deceased on April 4 in Duharts Creek located in the 400 block of Cox Road as 46-year-old Michael Hirdler originally from Minnesota.
On April 4 shortly after 11 a.m., GPD officers responded to Duharts Creek behind the 400 block of Cox Road for the report of a deceased male in the creek.
On April 18, investigators released information about tattoos found on the man’s body and asked the public for help identifying him.
Thanks to information provided through social media, detectives were able to identify the man as Hirdler and locate family members who lived out of state.
Detectives continue to wait for additional autopsy results to determine the manner and cause of Hirdler’s death.
GPD thanks all the individuals who submitted tips that ultimately led to the identification of Hirdler and the location of his family members.
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