This morning at about 8:22, our Deputy was accompanying personnel from the HOST program in the area of the Lytton Station off-ramp of northbound highway 101. They had come looking for a homeless encampment in a field nearby. While walking along a dirt road toward the encampment, our Deputy spotted a body. The body was on the ground about 5-10 feet down an embankment.
The Deputy looked closer and confirmed that the person was deceased. There were clear signs of decomposition. He immediately called for the Detective Coroner and Detectives from the Violent Crimes Investigation unit. As a precaution the area was cordoned off, as is standard protocol in case the deceased had been the victim of a crime.
The body was a distance from the encampment and it is not clear whether or not the deceased was associated with the site. Two people at the encampment were detained and questioned briefly by Detectives.
The Coroner Detective had the body transported to the county morgue where an examination by a forensic pathologist will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. It is unknown if the deceased had been the victim of foul play, trauma or any other event that might have precipitated the demise.
This is an open and on-going investigation. We are not releasing any further details about the person’s identity or the scene. VCI Detectives are currently working on this investigation. Information will only be provided to the public in a manner that does not interfere with the integrity of the case.
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO
