WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) – The Whiteville Police Department provided updates on the investigation into the death of a fitness studio owner at a press conference Thursday morning.
71-year-old Cynthia Hansen died at the hospital on March 11 after being assaulted inside her business, Stronger Body Fitness, in Whiteville.
During the press conference on April 16, Police Chief Paul Rockenbach revealed Hansen was assaulted with a “weapon of opportunity” collected by law enforcement inside the fitness studio.
“This was a senseless and violent act that deeply impacted the Hansen family and our entire community,” said Rockenbach.
He shared that the department has received multiple tips and reviewed footage to develop a clear timeline of the incident.
Investigators believe the suspect is a male who wore a dark grey hoodie on the night of the incident and may walk with a limp, he said.
Chief Rockenbach stated that Hansen provided details about the assault before her death, including the name “Daniel.”
He also shared the following image related to the assault:
Photo shared by the Whiteville Police Department of a possible suspect in the case of Cynthia Hansen’s death(Whiteville Police Department)
Police are still asking community members on the east side of Whiteville to continue reviewing security camera footage and report any information they may have.
“Someone knows something, someone in our community has seen something,” Chief Rockenbach said.
The state of North Carolina is offering a reward of up to $25,000, and the police department is offering a $2,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in the case.
Anyone with information should contact the Whiteville Police Department at 910-642-5111, the State Bureau of Investigation at 919-662-4500 or submit a tip online.
“We will continue to pursue this case relentlessly,” Chief Rockenbach said.
You can watch the full livestream below:
Hansen died at the hospital on March 11 after being assaulted inside her business, Stronger Body Fitness, in Whiteville.
Copyright 2026 WECT. All rights reserved.
