Body of Missing Goldsboro Man Found Eight Days After Disappearance, SBI Confirms
WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — The body of a missing Goldsboro man has been found eight days after he was last seen near La Grange, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
Authorities confirmed that 33-year-old Justin Maurice Bright was located Thursday following an extensive multi-agency search effort spanning both Wayne and Lenoir counties.
Bright was last seen around 4:30 p.m. on October 22, 2025, near La Grange — a small town situated between Goldsboro and Kinston. His family reported him missing soon after, and an official missing person report was filed in Lenoir County.
Body Located by Helicopter Search Team
Officials said the search operation involved agents from the SBI, deputies from the Wayne and Lenoir County Sheriff’s Offices, and officers from the Mount Olive Police Department.
After several days of searching by ground and air, a helicopter crew spotted Bright’s body in a wooded area off Durham Lake Road in Wayne County.
The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office has taken custody of the body to conduct an autopsy and determine the official cause of death.
“Our investigators are continuing to look into all circumstances surrounding Mr. Bright’s disappearance and death,” the SBI said in a statement. “We are in close communication with his family as this case remains active.”
Investigation Continues
Authorities have not released any additional details about how Bright may have died or whether foul play is suspected. The SBI noted that the investigation remains ongoing and that no arrests or suspects have been identified at this time.
Residents in the area have been asked to contact law enforcement if they observed any unusual activity near Durham Lake Road or surrounding rural areas between October 22 and October 30.
Community Response
Friends and family of Justin Bright have expressed grief and shock at the discovery. Social media posts describe him as a “kind and dependable man” who was known throughout the Goldsboro area.
Community members have already begun organizing a candlelight vigil to honor Bright’s memory once the medical examiner releases the body to his family.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation or the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
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