SOUTH SALT LAKE -- Police continue their investigation into the death of a South Salt Lake man - apparently frozen to death.
Police identified the man as Kelton M. MacCarthy, 22, from Salt Lake City. His body was found Wednesday behind CRI Lifetree at 3838 South 700 East.
"I just saw suspicious activity back here in the corner," said a nearby resident who didn't want to be identified. "He was in jeans and a hoodie.”
The resident said he saw MacCarthy in the middle of the night.
"He was hunched over making noises, couldn't really tell what he was saying... he was shaking, probably cold,” the man said.
The resident said it's not uncommon for people to drink or use drugs in that area.
"Called my girlfriend, told her to lock the doors and when I came back he was gone, but I didn't realize, you know, didn't think anything of it to look over the wall,” he said.
When MacCarthy's body was found Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. behind CRI Lifetree, a clinical research company, police said it appeared he froze to death.
Gary Keller with the South Salt Lake Police Department said," he was dressed for cold weather, he had pants, had long underwear on and a hoodie, hoodie was up, from what I understand his hands were pulled into the hoodie, and he was crouched down in the wall."
Police tell FOX 13 News MacCarthy was waiting for a ride from friends Tuesday night
"People that did talk to him earlier in the evening said he was intoxicated,” Keller said.
How MacCarthy ended up in the ditch is unclear.
"It appears he either passed out or fell asleep," Keller said.
Police said they will wait for the Medical Examiner's report on the exact cause of death, but said there does not appear to be anything suspicious or signs of an altercation with another person, and they believe he did freeze to death.
A statement from CRI Lifetree reads, "Earlier today we discovered a deceased individual outside of our building and immediately contacted the proper authorities. We soon learned that the individual is the son of one of our employees. We are fully cooperating with local authorities in this investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we are focused on supporting our employee and her family through this difficult time.”
Another man was found dead in Memory Grove Park Monday night, and that man died of hypothermia.
Another man was found dead in a car at a salvage yard located at 4385 West and 700 South Monday, and the man's body was frozen when found. Police said it's possible the man may have died due to a medical condition or some other cause and his body froze after he died. Police officials said the car was still running when the man was found, and it appeared the man was living out of his car.
Related story: Nurse discusses dangers of exposure to cold
