WILMINGTON — According to WECT-TV6, a man wanted by Wilmington Police was found hanging from a tree Tuesday afternoon in New Hanover County.
Wilmington Police began searching for Stanton Monday afternoon, when they secured warrants on him for attempted rape and kidnapping. Investigators say Stanton tried to rape a woman at a business off of Eastwood Road Monday afternoon.
Reports say Stanton entered a salon on the 400 block of Eastwood Road shortly after 4 p.m. Monday and lured one of the attendants to the back of the business and attempted to sexually assault her. She was able to escape with only minor injuries.
Lt. Jerry Brewer of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to Sutton Lake Road around 4 p.m. and found the body of John Cornelius Stanton hanging from a tree. The Sheriff’s Office is now conducting a death investigation.
Witnesses say Stanton then ran out of the building and left the scene in a green Honda CRV.
The investigation is continuing.