Salina ? Saline County authorities say a man whose body was found in a field days after he went missing apparently froze to death.

The body of 47-year-old Tomas Roque Benitez was found by a hunter Friday southeast of Salina. Sheriff Glen Kochanowski says an autopsy found Benitez died of hypothermia.

Kochanowski said Tuesday that authorities were still trying to contact relatives of Benitez, who was originally from Puerto Rico.

A search for Benitez began Dec. 19, when clothes he was believed to be wearing were found southeast of Salina, with his identification inside.

The Salina Journal reports that Benitez pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine in November. He also became homeless after an accidental fire at his home.