Body behind Tacoma Community College belonged to homeless man

Skeletal remains found last week behind Tacoma Community College belong to a homeless man who apparently died of natural causes.

A person walking a dog found the bones near a trail by the soccer field Jan. 5 and called police. Detectives investigated the scene as a homicide because the cause of death was not immediately known.

On Monday, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as a 51-year-old Tacoma man and said he died of natural causes.

The man was homeless and had interacted with college security officers in the past, Tacoma police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said.

Police continue to investigate his death.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 7:27 AM with the headline "Body behind Tacoma Community College belonged to homeless man."