Investigators said they are no closer to understanding what
killed a local man than they were Feb. 11 when his body was
discovered on the banks of the San Benito River.
Investigators said they are no closer to understanding what killed a local man than they were Feb. 11 when his body was discovered on the banks of the San Benito River.
An autopsy conducted late last week was deemed inconclusive when it failed to reveal any relevant information concerning the death of Eustevio Martinez, 44, the San Benito County Coroner’s Office said.
“There are no obvious signs of foul play, so a sample of Mr. Martinez’s blood was sent to the crime lab for a toxicology screening,” Lt. Michael Covell said.
Obvious signs of foul play include things such as gunshot or knife wounds or extensive bruising as one would receive from a beating, officials said.
The toxicology screening will examine Martinez’s blood for any possible drugs or toxic chemicals in his system. The toxicology test takes about two weeks to process, investigators said.
Police said there was indications that Martinez had a long history as an abuser of inhalants, however, they did not know if his reported addiction was the cause of his death.
“We think that this guy was sniffing paint thinner,” Sheriff Curtis Hill said. “We found about a two or three ounce container right next to him.”
Martinez’s corpse was found at about 1 p.m. Tuesday by a passer-by near what appeared to be a makeshift campsite beneath the San Benito River Bridge along San Felipe-Hollister Road.
The campsite was near a path that runs about 200 feet south of a pumping station.
The initial stages of the investigation into Martinez’s death were hampered because police could not identify Martinez’s body because he was reportedly not carrying any identification, police said.
It was not until later when police were contacted by concerned family members that investigators had a positive identification.
Knowing the identity of body helps investigators because they can then talk to Martinez’s family and friends to piece together a timeline of events leading up to his death, police said.
