A body found in a parked vehicle in Delaware has been identified as an 85-year-old man from Reston.
Investigators determined that Lewis Johnson died from natural causes and was subsequently driven to Rehoboth Beach by a family member, Delaware State Police said today (Monday) in a news release.
Johnson’s body was found on June 24 by officers with the local Rehoboth Beach Police Department, who were responding to “a report of a foul odor coming from a parked vehicle” in the 40 block of Olive Avenue around 6:30 p.m.
“When officers arrived, they located a grey Mazda CX-5 with Virginia registration legally parked on the street in front of a residence,” Delaware State Police said in a June 25 press release. “When officers checked the vehicle, they found the body of a deceased man inside. The victim’s body was partially covered, making it difficult to see from outside the vehicle.”
The unusual circumstances led Rehoboth Beach police to contact the state police, whose homicide unit began investigating the case as a “suspicious death.”
However, an autopsy conducted by the Delaware State Police’s Division of Forensic Science identified Johnson and found that he died from natural causes. Through their investigation, police also learned that he was already dead when the family member drove him to Rehoboth Beach.
Unable to locate the family member and concerned about her well-being, police consulted with relatives and issued a Gold Alert on June 28. Delaware’s Gold Alert program is used to find missing people with disabilities, senior citizens, children and individuals who may be suicidal.
According to police, the family member “was safely located the following day and taken to a medical facility for evaluation.”
No criminal charges are being filed in the case, which has now been closed.
“The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit extends its appreciation to the Rehoboth Beach Police Department and the Division of Forensic Science for their assistance,” Delaware State Police said.
Located along Delaware’s eastern coast, Rehoboth Beach is a vacation destination with a boardwalk, water and amusement parks, and other attractions.
Photo via Delaware State Police/Facebook
