PORTLAND, Maine — Around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Portland police discovered a tent on fire with a body inside along Marginal Way. Police said in a news release Monday they have identified the age and sex of the person, but not the official cause and manner of death.
Following an autopsy performed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, it is believed the victim is a 31-year-old man, who was living in the encampment alongside Interstate 295 northbound at Exit 7, according to police.
The state fire marshal and medical examiner offices are currently attempting to collect a DNA sample from out-of-state relatives. Officials say a positive identification will not be made until that occurs.
According to police, the body was found by an officer patrolling the area Sunday evening, who went to investigate "what he thought was a campfire," at 140 Marginal Way. Upon closer examination, the officer found a tent ablaze with a body inside.
"The fire department extinguished the fire and determined the subject was deceased," police said.
The cause and origin of the fire will not be released until the fire marshal has completed their investigation.
If you have any information that could assist in this case, police are asking you to call them at 207-874-8575.