SOUTH BURLINGTON — Police say they believe they’ve identified a man who was found dead Monday afternoon in the area of Patchen and Arbor roads.
The body was discovered in a wooded area near the road by a Vermont Gas Systems employee who was contacted by a customer who smelled what the person thought was a gas leak. The employee instead found the body and called police.
Police do not suspect foul play. Investigators discovered needles near the body, suggesting the death may have been an accidental overdose, police said in a news release. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to establish an official cause of death.
WCAX reported that officers were initially unable to identify the man and had requested the public’s help. But by Tuesday afternoon South Burlington Police Chief Trevor Whipple said he believes they’ve identified the body and that tips from the public would only slow their investigation at this point.
Whipple said the man’s identity will not be released until it’s confirmed using DNA or medical records and police have notified the next of kin.
