Fountain Valley News - Your Hometown Community Newspaper

Fountain Police Department is investigating after a body was found early Thursday morning near the side of Hwy. 85-87.

At approximately 7:37 a.m. Dec. 22, an El Paso County Parks officer was checking on the homeless in the area of Hwy. 85-87 and Alegre Street when he located an adult male who was deceased, according to an FPD statement.

Detectives with the Fountain Police Department responded to the scene and have assumed responsibility of the investigation. Preliminary information does not show any signs of foul play, but the El Paso County Coroner will make the final determination on the cause and manner of death.

"This continues to be an active investigation, and we do not believe there is any danger to the public," the FPD statement added.

Residents in the area say they suspect the person may have frozen to death, considering the overnight temperatures that had dipped well below 0.

Liz Rosenbaum said she was in the area at the time the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and county coroner staff were on scene removing the body from a ditch. She said there was no car in the vicinity to indicate a vehicle accident.

"A houseless neighbor died in the cold," she lamented.

Staff at Connie's Cupboard, which often assists homeless individuals with food and other items, said all of their regular visitors had been accounted for Thursday morning.