Homeless Man Found Dead in Park

Shortly after 8am on Monday, Nov. 7, officers from the responded to a report of an unresponsive subject at Crawford Park on West Main Street. On arrival, officers met with the reporting person – a man who was a friend of the subject.

According to reports, the witness told police he had returned to the park from picking up the subject's Social Security check at the and found his friend laying face down on the ground outside of a shack in the woods where the subject had been staying. He then took officers to the body.

The witness told police he had last seen the subject alive at around 11pm on Sunday, Nov. 6, drinking vodka and beer. The witness claimed when he returned in the morning with the Social Security check, he found his friend laying face down on the ground with his pants lowered. The witness stated that he and another man turned the subject over and pulled his pants up. As they did, the witness observed blood on and around his crotch area.

When officers found the subject, they observed him lying face up with his pants unbuttoned and unzippered a few feet from a makeshift shelter made from plywood, 2x4s, blankets and plastic. The subject had blood around his waist area and there was a comforter and pillow near the body. Officers found trash and numerous empty bottles of alcohol near the area, but no obvious signs of a struggle.

According to police, emergency medical personnel from Plymouth Ambulance Company confirmed that the subject was deceased. They also confirmed the subject had a history of high blood pressure, MRSA, diabetes, alcohol abuse and psychological issues including depression.

Officers processed the scene, taking pictures for evidence, and contacted the Montgomery County Coroner's office to recover the body. The subject's Social Security check, cellphone and a medical discharge sheet from were placed into evidence.

Police are still investigating the death and have yet to locate the subject's next of kin. Norristown Patch has contacted the coroner's office and is awaiting confirmation of the cause of death.