Just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday a property owner conducting a search of his property found something that seemed out of place.

So when the Manteca Police Department showed up and did a welfare check, the man’s instincts were right on the money. An unidentified male was found deceased near the back of the property behind the commercial strip that runs behind Milano’s Pizza and includes John Rodriguez Insurance and the office of a local chiropractor.

According to Manteca Patrol Sergeant William Miller, there was very little information that could be passed along given the fluid nature of the situation. Manteca Police Department Detectives were on hand – along with representatives from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department – to begin the investigation into how the man perished and how he ended up behind a relatively well-traveled thoroughfare just off of Main Street.

Additional information, like the deceased’s name, will likely be made available on today once the next of kin are notified and other steps in the investigative process have been taken.

The parking lot that leads to the back buildings in the commercial lot were cordoned off for several hours Tuesday evening, and the Manteca Police Department Traffic Division had its trailer out there to provide light during the early stages of evidence collection.

“There really isn’t much information can be released at this time,” Miller said. “It’s too early in the process.”