A birdwatcher checked on a woman screaming at an NC boat ramp. He died nearly a year later

National admin October 22, 2026 0 Comments

A birdwatcher checked on a woman screaming at an NC boat ramp. He died nearly a year later

A birdwatcher viciously beaten at a boat ramp has died after nearly a year of struggling to recover, according to investigators in North Carolina.

The attack happened Oct. 19, 2025, at the N.C. Wildlife Boating Access Area in Milton, when David Pennebaker paused to investigate cries for help, the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office said in an Oct. 21 news release.

“He heard a woman screaming for help in the parking lot,” the sheriff’s office said. “He walked over to check on her and was beaten unconscious by an unknown male. The assault caused David to have a series of medical emergencies which resulted in David passing away on September 20.”

Pennebaker, 64, was a father, grandfather and a longtime member of the Carolina Bird Club, according to his obituary. “Family members often turned to David to identify a bird, and there seemed to be no bird call he couldn’t recognize,” the obituary says.

Investigators have not provided a description of the suspect. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Caswell County Sheriff’s office at 336-694-2555 or Crime Stoppers at 336-694-5199.

Milton is about an 80-mile drive northwest from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published October 22, 2026 at 11:30 AM with the headline “A birdwatcher checked on a woman screaming at an NC boat ramp. He died nearly a year later.”