     ACCORDING TO INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION,  THE DECEASED WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE ON AUGUST 16, 1996, BY A NEIGHBOR. ON THAT DATE AND TIME HE DID NOT COMPLAIN OF ANYTHING.  ON AUGUST 18, 1996 THE SAME NEIGHBOR OBSERVED THE DECEASED INSIDE HIS APARTMENT, LYING ON THE LIVING ROOM SOFA, APPARENTLY ASLEEP.  HER ATTEMPTS TO AWAKEN HIM WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.  FIRE RESCUE WAS CALLED AND UPON RESPONDING FOUND THE DECEASED EXPIRED.
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     POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND VIEWED THE DECEASED LYING SUPINEON SOFA IN LIVING ROOM, WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF TRAUMA.  HIS BODY WAS IN SLIGHT DECOMPOSITION.  EVIDENCE ON THE SCENE SUGGESTED THAT THE DECEASED WAS A CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC AND A HEAVY SMOKER.