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East Lansing Police Look Into Death of Man Found Outside Wednesday

MSU, snow, winter, wind chills
Reginald Hardwick
/
WKAR-MSU
Snow blankets Michigan State University in East Lansing while wind chills down to -20 blow through campus on January 30, 2019

Police in East Lansing said an autopsy will determine if the extreme cold weather played a role in the death of a 60-year-old man found outdoors on Wednesday.

East Lansing Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez confirmed to WKAR News that the man's death did not involve foul play. The victim's name has not been released.

The Lansing State Journal reports the man was found along Woodingham Drive on Wednesday afternoon. 

Dep. Chief Gonzalez said an autopsy and toxicology results will determine how the man died.

"We do not know if the individual suffered a medical emergency while outside causing his death or if his death was a direct result of exposure to the elements," said Dep. Chief Gonzalez. "We expect the autopsy to aid in answering that question."

On Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service had placed the Capital region, including East Lansing, under a Winter Storm Warning. Wind chills throughout the afternoon ranged around 20 below zero. 

The extreme cold claimed the lives of nearly ten people across the midwest. Police say at least two people in the Detroit area have died in the extremely cold weather, including a former member of the City Council in the town of Ecorse, Michigan.

The body of a University of Iowa student has been found on the campus in Iowa City, and officials say they believe his death was weather-related.

An 82-year-old central Illinois man has died in the cold weather after authorities say he was found several hours after he fell trying to get into his home. 

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