Police investigating body found near downtown as potential homicide; deceased identified as 62-year-old Lawrence man

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Medical personnel remove a body from the area at the southern end of the Kansas River bridge in downtown Lawrence, near the intersection of Sixth and Vermont streets.

Updated at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Lawrence police are investigating after a man’s body was found Wednesday morning near downtown Lawrence. Police believe the death may be a homicide.

Police responded to the intersection of Sixth and Vermont streets at about 10:45 a.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting what the caller believed was a dead body near the Kansas River bridge, according to a post from the department on social media just before noon. Police later identified the deceased as 62-year old David Blaine Sullivan, of Lawrence, and said evidence at the scene suggested that foul play was involved in his death. They did not reveal the nature of that evidence.

Emergency crews found Sullivan on the ground near the trees northwest of the intersection. Crime scene investigators worked the scene for several hours on Wednesday.

“A definitive determination on manner of death will be determined by the Coroner’s office following an autopsy later this week,” police said in a news release Wednesday afternoon. “While we await that determination, we will continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the man’s death.”

Police said it was unknown how long Sullivan had been in the location where he was found.

Anyone who may have more information is asked to contact dispatch at (785) 832-7509, or tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Douglas County at (785) 843-TIPS (8477).

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A tarp covers the scene of a dead body on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the intersection of Sixth and Vermont Streets. The man’s body was reported found around 10:45 a.m.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Police vehicles surround the scene of a body found on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the intersection of Sixth and Vermont streets. The man’s body was found around 10:45 a.m.