“It is with the most profound sadness imaginable, we wanted to let you know that the body of our beloved father, spouse and grandfather – Kent Torrey Hinkson was found late last night,” the family said on a website dedicated to searching for him.
Updated August 10, 2014 4:45 (EDT)
A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kent Torrey Hinkson, a missing Anglican priest from Durham whose body was found late Saturday in a state park in Orange County.
Authorities said Sunday that Matthew Reed, 36, was being held at the Orange County jail. Reed has a first court appearance Monday. They did not say whether the suspect knew the victim.
The State Bureau of Investigation is handling the case because Hinkson’s body was found at Eno River State Park, near Pleasant Green Road and U.S. 70. His body has been sent to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
Charlie Peek, a spokesman for the state park, said Reed led authorities to the body around midnight.
The body of Kent Torrey Hinkson, a missing minister from Durham, was found late Saturday, police said.
Durham police say they had been actively searching for 71-year-old Hinkson since his wife reported him missing Monday evening [August 4].
Jeline Hinkson said that her husband, Kent Hinkson, 71, left their Fox Chase Lane home in the Woodcroft Community in the family’s red 2011 Hyundai Sonata. She started to worry when he didn’t return home several hours later. Family and friends formed a search party Wednesday afternoon in his Woodcroft neighborhood.
A spokesman for Hinkson’s family said Sunday that authorities have a suspect in custody and referred questions to the Durham Police Department. However, police did not immediately confirm whether the death has been ruled a homicide or if anyone was charged.
“It is with the most profound sadness imaginable, we wanted to let you know that the body of our beloved father, spouse and grandfather – Kent Torrey Hinkson was found late last night,” the family said on a website dedicated to searching for him.
Hinkson was serving as a minister of pastoral care at All Saints Church in Durham. Before moving to the Triangle nine years ago, Hinkson had served for 40 years as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), and then in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He served churches in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Miami.
