     ACCORDING TO INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION, THE DECEASED REPORTEDLY HAD A DRINKING PROBLEM. EARLIER IN THE DAY, ON NOVEMBER 24,1996, HE HAD BEEN SEEN DRINKING.  AS PER WITNESSES, HE WAS SEEN TO SIT ON A BENCH IN FRONT OF HIS RESIDENCE AND LAID HIS HEAD ON A TRASH CONTAINER, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.  AT4:15 PM., FIRE RESCUE RESPONDED AND FOUND HIM DEAD.
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     POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND VIEWED THE DECEASED WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF TRAUMA. TWO VIALS OF MEDICATIONS, ONE LABELED "ZANTAC" AND THE OTHER FOLIC ACID, GENERIC FOR "BEROCCA PLUS"  WERE SENT TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DEPARTMENT.  POLICE EFFORTS TO CONTACT HIS PHYSICIAN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
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     DR. VIRGILIO BEATO-NUNEZ, 443-7427, WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT HE SAW THE DECEASED ONLY ON ONE OCCASION, IN SEPTEMBER/1996.  THE DECEASED WENT TO HIS OFFICE FOR A CHECK-UP.  EKG WAS NORMAL, AS WELL AS OTHER STUDIES, EXCEPT FOR FINDINGS ON CHEMISTRY PROFILE WHICH WERE SUGGESTIVE OF POSSIBLE HEPATITIS OR ETOH ABUSE.  HE HAD BEEN AT MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER.