A homeless man in the Detroit metropolitan area was found dead this week in a port-a-potty where authorities believe he was trying to live to stay out of the cold.
According to the Macomb Daily, the decomposed body was found locked in the portable restroom at a boat ramp over the weekend. Police speculated that he moved into the facility in November or December to take shelter from the harsh Michigan winter.
An autopsy performed earlier this week determined that the man, who has not been identified, died from hypothermia. He was said to be a white man, 5-feet 11-inches tall, and weighing between 110 and 120 pounds. He wore prescription glasses, and his nose was described as larger than normal.
The Macomb County Medical Examiner found no signs of trauma.
“There were no bruises on the man who we believe is between the ages of 45 to 50,” Detective Jay Cohoe said. “We are talking to business owners in the area in an attempt to identify him.”
“We believe the man was homeless,” he pointed out. “He had some gift cards on his person from a local church, and we are checking with the people there to see if they knew him.”
The Detroit Newsreported that the man had tried to use trash to insulate the portable toilet.
Watch the following 2013 documentary about the increasing problem of homelessness in Detroit.
[Photo: Close-up of homeless male face covered with frost via Shutterstock.com]
