- April 24, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
A 45-year-old homeless man who goes by the name of Marc Smith was found dead in the grass at the Flagler Plaza shopping center on the southwest corner of Old Kings Road and State Road 100 the afternoon of May 10.
A deputy arrived at the plaza at 12:12 p.m. after a person who works in one of the businesses there reported finding Smith's body. She said she'd noticed him earlier that day and thought he was sleeping. When she saw, hours later, that he had not moved, she called 911.
The deputy recognized Smith, who was lying "on his back in a pile of his personal belongings and trash," between two rows of bushes near a fire hydrant about 15 feet from the western side of the parking lot, according to the deputy's report.
"Marc is known to me through previous calls for service as a transient person with no local addresses, or attending physicians," the deputy wrote. "Marc has refused medical attention through several previous calls for service where Marc was reported as a suspicious person or solicitor under the I-95 overpass at SR. 100 E."
Smith, wearing a red jacket and brown pants, could be seen from the parking lot, according to the report. He was unresponsive when the deputy touched him, and showed no signs of life.
Firefighter paramedics arrived at the scene and pronounced Smith dead, according to the deputy's report.
Because Smith's death was unattended and unexplained, the deputy established a crime scene and crime scene log, and the FCSO's Investigative Services Division and CSI staff responded.
Medical Examiner's Office staff arrived and noted "no obvious signs of trauma or injury" on Smith's body, which was removed from the scene at 3:09 p.m., the deputy wrote.
The deputy checked Smith's usual campsite near Coconuts Car Wash, and found no signs of a struggle or suspicious activity, according to the deputy's report.
"Marc’s belongings were packed away in trash bags, which he typically does when he leaves the site for the day," the deputy wrote.
The deputy, searching for information on Smith, discovered that he had used other names in other parts of the county. The deputy found a Florida ID record and ID number for Smith, but wasn't able to verify his identity with a Social Security number.
