Dead body found in Warren field believed to be overdose victim

WARREN, Mich. (WJBK) - A man who was found dead in a Warren field Thursday is believed to have died from a drug overdose.  It's a story that's becoming all too common as the opioid epidemic grips metro Detroit.

A passerby spotted the body lying in the open field near the intersection of 14 Mile and Ryan Thursday morning and called Warren police.

"He was in a hooded outfit, sweatpants, tennis shoes, and basically he was dead on arrival," said Mayor Jim Fouts.

It appears the 23-year-old white male victim who investigators say lived in Sterling Heights, died from either alcohol or a drug overdose.

"I had a cousin die in 2001 from it, it's hard," Fouts said.

James Vlilet came was at the scene looking for his close friend, 30-year-old Jeremiah Combs, who he says is a heroine user. Vlilet says he hasn't seen his friend since Saturday night, and a missing person's report has been filed.

FOX 2 confirmed with Warren's mayor that Combs is not the victim.

"I hope someone knows where he's at, and contacts the Warren Police Department," Vlilet said.

Fortunately, Vlilet's friend is not the victim, but you still have a family now grieving.

Fouts says if the victim did die from an overdose that will bring the number to 16, this year alone in the City of Warren. The city had nine last year, and seven the year before that.

"We should look at these individuals who are heroin users as someone who is sick, and not someone who is a criminal," Fouts said.

Fouts added the city of Warren has partnered with federal agencies to crack down on drug houses in the area.

Also on Thursday, Warren police responded to call of an overdose, but fortunately that person did not lose his life.

"Luckily we had Narcan, all of our police officers have it and we saved that person's life," Fouts said.

The mayor says his office is still waiting on toxicology results to know for sure if the victim died from using drugs.