Ben Gaudreault, a homeless man in his 30s believed to be from Colorado, was discovered dead in the Heisler Park gazebo about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, Laguna Beach police said.
Overnight temperatures that night dipped into the low 40s locally, according to Accuweather.com. The same day, the bodies of two other people were also discovered dead on the streets of Costa Mesa.
While exposure might be suspected as a cause of death, in Gaudreault’s case as well as the two others, a determination will be made after toxicology results are considered, said Supervising Depty. Coroner Daniel Aiken.
Gaudreault was in good spirits and did not complain about health problems, said the city’s homeless outreach officer, Corporal Jason Farris, who said he had talked to him the previous afternoon, but did not discuss his planned sleeping arrangements for the night.
Gaudreault told Farris he came to California to dispose of his mother’s ashes. Since his arrival, he had taken advantage of the city’s overnight shelter many times and had made friends, said Farris.
