Denver police were called to a grassy area at Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue about noon Sunday to investigate the deaths of two men who appeared to have been homeless.
There were no visible signs of trauma, said Detective Sharon Hahn, spokeswoman for the Denver Police Department.
The cause of death and positive identifications will be provided by the coroner’s office, Hahn said.
The men were found in the middle of the area, covered with blankets. A blue shopping cart loaded with a suitcase and other personal items was nearby.
Officers immediately cordoned off the area with yellow tape while waiting for a homicide detective to arrive. Homicide investigators are called for any death that occurs outside, said Officer J. J. Huebner.
Police attempted to block the scene from view of the streets by setting up blue screens and repositioning their cars around the bodies.
According to the National Weather Service, overnight temperatures dropped to 27 degrees.
“Anytime there’s a freezing temp, or anytime it gets below 40 and there’s a wind chill, we put up 100 cots in overflow,” said Greta Walker, spokeswoman for the Denver Rescue Mission. “We’re definitely concerned for their safety at those temps.”
About 70 of those cots were occupied Saturday night, Walker said.
Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier: 303-954-1661 or jsteltonholtmeier@denverpost.com
