Search for missing Carteret County boater suspended after a body washes ashore

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - The Carteret County Sheriff’s Office says the search for a missing boater has been suspended after a body washed ashore Sunday.

Deputies were called to the 200 block of Oak Road near Beaufort for the body. The sheriff’s office says North Carolina Wildlife was made aware of the discovery and arrived to the scene shortly after.

NC Wildlife took over the investigation due to it possibly being 67-year-old John Teeter, a missing boater.

Identification is pending and deputies say it will happen after an autopsy is finished.

On Friday, the Coast Guard received a report of an unmanned boat that ran aground along Shellbank Road off the Newport River that showed signs of occupancy.

After an extensive search, Coast Guard officials say the search for Teeter was suspended pending further developments.

Station Fort Macon, Beaufort County drone teams, North Carolina Marine Patrol and NC Wildlife all participated in the search.