Police determine ‘tentative ID’ on decomposed body found behind Belleville gas station

The body of a man found behind a gas station on Tuesday night might be that of a St. Louis resident, police say.

Capt. Bruce Fleshren, of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, said Friday deputies have a “tentative ID” and are hoping to find family or friends who could verify the man’s name.

The man’s body was found behind the gas station on Centreville Avenue near Belleville on Tuesday by a tow yard worker who was feeding stray cats. The body had apparently been there about a week, police have said.

Investigators linked the man to a car parked at a nearby hotel, and the owner of the vehicle said another person had borrowed the car. There is video of the man who borrowed the car, Fleshren said, and he is wearing similar clothing to the man found dead.

An autopsy on Wednesday afternoon showed the body suffered no injuries and investigators do not suspect foul play, Fleshren said.

This story was originally published September 14, 2018 at 12:23 PM.