The Denver coroner’s office has ruled that the second of two homeless men found dead on Speer Boulevard in April died of drug-and-alcohol poisoning.
Howard Huntsinger, 44, had more than three and a half times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood, registering a reading of 0.288. A person is considered legally impaired at 0.8.
Huntsinger also had measurable amounts of cocaine and heroin in his blood, according to the autopsy, which was released today. The temperature that night was 30 degrees, which may have contributed to his death, the coroner ruled.
Huntsinger was found lying on the grass at Speer Boulevard and West Colfax Avenue. With him was George Chase Alone, 47, who also died at the scene of the same drug-alcohol mixture, the coroner ruled. The two men, both homeless, apparently died in their sleep just a few feet from each other. Their bodies were found by members of the Coalition for the Homeless.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
