Lawrence Police officers set up a crime scene tent where a 53-year-old man was found dead Friday near the Kansas River. The man’s body was found in the wooded area north of the BNSF Railway depot in east Lawrence. Police Sgt. Bill Cory said early indications were that the deceased man was not a Lawrence resident. There were no obvious signs of foul play, he said, adding that the body would be taken to Topeka for an autopsy. The body was found outside a tent; the area near the river has been popular in the past as a camping site for the area’s homeless. The city cleared out and demolished a homeless camp in October, shortly after two men were found dead in a tent there.

Lawrence police Friday afternoon were investigating the unattended death of a 53-year-old white male in the wooded area north of the BNSF Railway depot.

Sgt. Bill Cory said earlier indication were the deceased man was not a Lawrence resident. There were no obvious signs of foul play, he said.

Witnesses said the body was laying next to a tent. Crime scene investigators are on the scene. Cory said the body would be taken to Topeka for a complete autopsy.

The area has been popular in the past as a camping site for the area’s homeless. The city cleared out and demolished the homeless camp, in October 2008, shortly after two men were found dead in their tent in the homeless camp.

The city has been wrestling with a lack of shelter for homeless for some time, exacerbated with the closure Monday of the Salvation Army overnight shelter.

More information as it develops at LJWorld.com.