Human remains found in creek identified as missing Cabarrus County man

MOUNT PLEASANT, N.C. — Authorities said on Wednesday they identified human skeletal remains that were found in a creek on Dec. 8 in Cabarrus County.

According to the sheriff’s office, a neighbor called 911 just before 3:30 p.m. from Pine Cross Drive in Mount Pleasant saying they found something that appeared to be human remains in a creek behind their home.

ALSO READ: Skeletal remains found in northwest Charlotte woods, police say

When officers and deputies arrived they confirmed the object found was human skeletal remains, and they found more human skeletal remains in and around the small creek.

On Dec. 9, the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation collected the remains and sent it to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

On Tuesday, officials with the medical examiner’s office told the sheriff’s office the remains were identified as missing person William “Quincy” Piland, of Mount Pleasant.

“The investigation into Piland’s disappearance has been ongoing since August of 2021 and investigators believe they are much closer to finding out exactly what happened to Piland,” sheriff’s office investigators said in a news release. “CCSO investigators are optimistic that the discovery of Piland’s remains will lead to answers in this case.”

Investigators are asking the public for help for more information in the case.

Channel 9 crews on the scene the day of the discovery could see deputies had roped off an area next to and behind the Food Lion.

Lynne and Wallace Gaither travel 15 minutes from their home in Rockwell to shop at the Food Lion in Mount Pleasant because it’s quiet.

“Well, it’s kind of shocking, because this seems to be such a, like the name of the town, pleasant,” resident Lynn Gaither said.

In a release last week, the sheriff’s office said it has asked for help from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Medical Examiner’s Office in an effort to identify the remains.

“Once we identify our victim, we can begin to build that timeline of when they were last seen alive and begin to work forward,” Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw said. “We’re also simultaneously checking our missing person reports and cold cases that are out there that may be related.

Crime is rare in Mount Pleasant, and Shaw said that just because a body was found, that it does not mean there was any criminal activity.

No other information has been released.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

(WATCH BELOW: Found: Car and human remains from 1998 missing persons case)