Investigators remain unclear on what killed a man found dead Friday in the Santa Clara River wash in Canyon Country, officials said Wednesday.
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Deputies received the call regarding a man found face down in the wash near the intersection of Langside and Soledad Canyon Road around 10:50 a.m. last week, officials said.
Initially, a helicopter unit was called to the area, where it appeared a rescue might be possible.
County fire officials at the scene canceled medical units because they were able to determine the man was already dead.
Officials with the Coroner’s Office await toxicology reports to determine the cause of death for the man, who is believed to have been homeless at the time of the death.
They’re also not 100 percent on his identification, even if they were able to find his next of kin. Investigators are still working to accomplish both of these goals.
“We have two different names on him, and we’re waiting for the positive identification,” said Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
The decedent was wearing a medical bracelet when his body was found, Winter said, but officials apparently found at least one other known alias for him.
Even if officials were able to positively identify him, investigators with the Coroner’s Office are unable to track down his next of kin, Winter said.
Coroner’s officials don’t release the identity of a deceased person until family members have been notified, he added.
A toxicology report was ordered to help determine the cause of death because the medical examiner who performed the autopsy wasn’t able to definitively determine if the death was natural or accidental based on the initial investigation.
“It could have been medical issues,” Winter said, “or he could have slipped and fell into the water.”
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