Petaluma police Monday were investigating the death of a man whose body was found near the railroad tracks and a homeless center, the third apparent transient found dead since August.
The man's name hadn't been determined. It appeared he was in his late 50s, Lt. Tim Lyons said. There was no apparent trauma to the body.
Several people reported the discovery of the man's body at about 2:15 p.m. Sunday near Caulfield Lane and Hopper Street.
The location is just yards away from Committee on the Shelterless, the nonprofit homeless services center and shelter.
Police detectives conducted an extensive search of the area and found no evidence of foul play or suspicious activity, Lyons said.
An autopsy scheduled for later Monday could help identify the man and possibly determine a cause of death.
Coroner's Sgt. Greg Stashyn said detectives were chasing down potential leads to the man's identity and possible next of kin.
The man appeared to have died recently, Lyons said. He may have been homeless, he said.
The man is the third apparent transient whose body has been discovered since August.
James Wood, 60, was found dead near Willow Brook Creek on Sept. 12 by a dog walker. Wood appeared to have been dead for several days. He was found near several homeless camps near Redwood Highway east of North McDowell Boulevard.
Wood had struggled with a longtime addiction, but had found permanent housing through COTS shortly before his death, COTS workers said.
Three weeks earlier, a woman's skeleton was found in an undeveloped area of the McNear Peninsula near downtown. Police believe she also may have been a transient. Her identity hasn't been determined.
Anyone who may have information about the cases is asked to call police at 707-778-4372.
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