The Manteca Police Department are awaiting toxicology reports before determining what may led to the death of a 52-year-old male on the Tidewater Bikeway near Library Park last week.

Officers responded shortly after 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, after somebody reported a possibly deceased male in the vicinity. When officers arrived, they located the man and called for emergency medical services. The individual – who was identified on Tuesday as Craig Hart, a 52-year-old transient – was pronounced deceased upon their arrival.

Both responding officers and detectives checked the area and investigated the scene and ruled out the possibility of foul play but are awaiting test results to determine what factors may have led to the death of the individual that was known to officers.

Preliminary reports indicate that the man died of natural causes, but authorities are awaiting the results of a toxicology test.

The discovery last week came almost a month after a man as found deceased in his vehicle in the parking lot of Costco by a shopper that pulled up alongside the vehicle and noticed him inside. Authorities ruled that death a suicide, and the name of the individual was not immediately released to the public.

So far this year Manteca has had three confirmed homicides. The first occurred back in January when a person determined to responsible for the death of a senior citizen was charged with second-degree murder in an elder abuse case. The second came when a man was found shot in a vehicle that had been in a car accident near the intersection of Yosemite and Northwoods Avenues – one of the most heavily-traveled intersections in town. The third homicide resulted in charges this year after a person that was shot in the Primavera neighborhood back in 2018 passed away this year.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.