ATLANTA — A body was found in a trash chute at a southwest Atlanta retirement home on Monday, according to the fire department. Atlanta Fire said they removed the man found at the Atrium, at 435 Joseph E Lowery Blvd SW, near the Atlanta University Center complex.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office later identified him as 69-year-old Hugh Parks. The cause of death is still under investigation.
Not many details have been released about the case. However, Atlanta Police said its homicide investigators are also looking into the report. On Monday, APD said foul play is not suspected.
The sight of homicide detectives and a gruesome discovery have left residents and others near the complex concerned about their safety.
"I see so much stuff all the time, but I’ve never seen or heard of anything like that around here," said Eugene Stanley, who lives nearby. "I don’t worry myself too much. I just try and defend myself and take care of myself. I hate that, but that’s all you can do anywhere you go nowadays.”
Police said they would continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the body found in a trash chute. 11Alive reached out to the Atrium for comment but did not hear back.