Body found near Manor; deputies investigating: TCSO

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas - Deputies are investigating after a body was found near Manor.

What we know:

According to the Travis County Sheriff's Office, on Sunday, Feb. 23, around 2:18 p.m., a 911 call was received reporting that a body had been found in the 9700 block of Bitting School Road.

When deputies arrived, they spoke to the 911 caller, who showed them where he had found the body. The body was concealed under a tarp.

The body is estimated to be a man in his 40s. The body was in the later stages of decomposition.

The identity of the body will not be released until positive identification has been made by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office and next of kin have been notified.

An autopsy is expected to be completed this week. 

Deputies said they have no reason to believe the public is in danger.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the TCSO Tip Line at 512-854-1444 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.

What they're saying:

TCSO said evidence suggests the body may be someone who was left on the side of the roadway after dying. 

Larry Sellers, who lives nearby, says his brother saw several TCSO vehicles. 

"I tell you what, people are always dumping something down there, animals and dogs and cats, and sheep and goats. I guess this is a new one, dropping a body off. I hope they find out who it was," he said. "Never seen anything like that happen. Hopefully that's the first and the last time, it's kind of spooky."

Eric Samuels, president and CEO of the Texas Homeless Network, says cases involving homelessness can be challenging to investigate.

"Sometimes people who were homeless do not have IDs, and do not have any way to identify them easily," he said. "It's often difficult to determine who to go ask about this person, to find out more about where they're from and who they might contact in terms of family that needs to be notified."

It may also take longer for families to realize the person is missing. 

"A lot of times, our families of people that are experiencing homelessness don't know that that person is on the street or even in Austin or even in the state of Texas in some cases," Samuels said.

Meanwhile, Sellers hopes people will stay vigilant.

"Just keep your eyes out for foul play and stuff, people stopping and dumping, see what they dump," he said.