Dead shark in Wake Forest: The detail that points to a possible crime

The body of a dead shark was found on a Wake Forest roadside Sunday, sparking horrified responses on social media.

The Wake Forest Police Department received a complaint around 4:30 p.m. Sunday about the 5-foot carcass dumped along Ligon Mill Road near Burlington Mills Road, according to Bill Crabtree, the town’s spokesman.

Officials then contacted the N.C. Department of Transportation, which disposed of the dead shark in the county landfill. Crabtree didn’t know if authorities would investigate the incident and had no other details.

According to a photo circulated on Reddit, the shark appeared to be finned, which is illegal, and gutted.

The photo stirred outrage online, with social media users deploring the discarded body as “disgusting.”

“This breaks my heart,” wrote one user.

“I hate people,” wrote another.

The N&O was unable to speak with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries on Tuesday or Wednesday morning for information about shark finning.

This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 4:21 PM.