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THOMASVILLE, N.C. — Thomasville police are investigating after a body was found in a wooded area behind a convenience store.

At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thomasville police responded to the Johnsontown Mart, located at 1071 Johnsontown Road, after a body was discovered.

A decomposed body was found in the wood line behind the convenience store. The body is being sent to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh to determine a cause of death.

The name of the victim has not been released.

“In instances where the manner of death is not readily apparent, we begin a thorough investigation in order to preserve any evidence that may be critical to a criminal investigation, should one be warranted,” Thomasville police Lt. Brad Saintsing said. “We have not eliminated the possibility that this death may be accidental or from natural causes. Until we know for certain, we are proceeding in a systematic manner.”