John McCarthy
CHRISTIANSTED — The partially decomposed body of a St. Croix man was found inside a downtown home on Saturday evening, authorities said.
Marvin Guy Forson, no age given, was discovered inside a home at Plot 5A King Cross Street in Christiansted about 6:27 p.m. on Saturday, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Preliminary police investigation indicated the person may have died several days prior to his body being discovered and that it was in an advance(d) state of decomposition,” VIPD spokesman Glen Dratte said.
Police detectives were able to determine that Forson made a telephone call on Friday.
They said the rapid rate of decomposition of the body could be attributed to the tropical weather and that the home was closed up tight with no air flow.
Police and Emergency Medical Technicians were called to the home on Saturday after neighbors complained of a foul odor coming from inside the property.
“Officers investigating the report observed the body and EMTs later confirmed that it was a DOA,” according to Dratte.
Police and medical personnel got assistance from the Virgin Islands Fire Service’s HAZMAT division who wore protective clothing while removing the body.
An autopsy will determine Forson’s exact cause of death.
Witnesses reported that a vehicle parked near the property was removed by police for forensic analysis.
