A homeless man who was found dead Thursday in downtown Durango has been identified, and a cause of death determined.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith identified the man as Richard Marchetti, 61. He was living homeless in Durango for some time, authorities said, but had family in Florida. Smith said next of kin has been notified.
Durango Police responded to a report of a homeless man found dead about 9:30 a.m. Thursday behind a building adjacent to The Durango Herald offices in the 1200 block of Main Avenue. He was found with no obvious signs of trauma, authorities said.
Smith said an autopsy Thursday determined Marchetti’s death was from natural causes. She said he died of personal medical issues.
A toxicology was conducted, but the results will take a few weeks.
Durango Police Cmdr. Ray Shupe said Thursday that Marchetti had been living homeless in the Durango area for some time. It wasn’t immediately known how long he had been camping at that spot, a well-vegetated area between Main Avenue and the railroad tracks.
“We’ve had numerous contacts with him,” Shupe said. “It was apparent he was camping behind the business there.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com