Dead Man Discovered in Tent at Rochester Park

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A death investigation is underway after a dead man was discovered in a tent in a Rochester park over the weekend. 

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That’s according to Rochester Police Captain Casey Moilanen. He said the man’s body was discovered shortly before 7:40 p.m. Friday. 

The body discovery occurred in Silver Lake Park. Moilanen said a friend of the deceased went to check on him in a tent situated in a small wooded area north of 7th St. Northeast and south of Silver Lake near an old fire station. 

The visitor told officers his friend was unresponsive when he checked on him. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. 

His name has not been released. The man is described as 57 years old and does not have a permanent address. 

Moilanen said the responding officers did not observe any signs of trauma or foul play. The report indicates officers did not find any evidence of drug use at the scene. 

Investigators have ordered an autopsy to identify the man and determine his cause of death. 

The 57-year-old man is the third person reported to have died inside of a tent at a Rochester park since June of this year. In July, 69-year-old Marvin Peterson was found dead in a tent at an apparent encampment in Soldiers Field Park. 

In June officers responded to an apparent homeless encampment at Cook Park where a parks department employee discovered the body of 61-year-old Carl Blade.