Teen Found Dead After Weeks Missing in Buncombe County

Deputies located the body of 18 year old Joseph Rose on December 12 after responding to a report at 69 Gilbert B Crook Road in Candler just after 3 30 p.m. Local authorities identified the deceased as Rose. The circumstances of his death remain unknown and investigators are continuing work to determine what happened.

Rose was last heard from on November 24, and family members said he had planned to attend a Thanksgiving gathering but did not show and had not been in contact since. An officer with the Asheville Police Department said Rose was reported missing on December 2. Family members told reporters the body was found in a ditch, and relatives are asking for explanations as they try to process the loss.

Family statements reflected deep anguish and a search for answers. Joseph Rose’s sister described him simply, saying “He’s just a baby.” In a separate statement she said he was “the kind of person who loved everyone exactly as they are” and a “friend to so many.” Those close to Rose noted he had been reported missing previously in June 2021 when he was 14, a fact that underscores ongoing concerns about missing youth in the community.

Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office District 2 Captain Chris Stockton said the sheriff’s office is “working to bring answers for Mr. Rose’s family.” Stockton added that “BCSO personnel are committed to finding answers through a thorough investigation.” Authorities have not released additional details about the cause of death or potential suspects, and they declined to provide specifics about the immediate scene.

For Buncombe County residents the case raises policy and oversight questions about how missing person reports are handled and how communication between families and law enforcement is managed. The gap between the last known contact on November 24 and the missing person report on December 2 will be central to investigative timelines and any review of procedural response. Community members and local leaders may press for timely updates and transparency as the investigation proceeds.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities have asked anyone with information to come forward to assist in bringing clarity to Rose’s death and to support his family as they seek answers.