THOUSAND OAKS : Body of Homeless Man Found in Locked Car

The body of an accountant who had been homeless for about a year was discovered early Monday inside the locked car where he is believed to have been living at a park-and-ride lot alongside the Ventura Freeway, authorities said.

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies said that Harrison David Droege, 32, had probably been living out of his red 1986 Toyota, which was stuffed with clothing, sleeping bags, resumes and suitcases. His decomposed body was found huddled inside a sleeping bag in the front passenger seat.

The cause of death is still under investigation and an autopsy is scheduled for this morning. Authorities said they found no signs of foul play or suicide.

“He looked like he’d crawled in to go to sleep and just didn’t wake up,” said Deputy Coroner Craig Stevens. “There’s no indication of any trouble, injury or foul play. And there’s no indication of any drug or alcohol use.”

Droege’s car had been locked from the inside and the keys were found inside his pocket along with his wallet, which had no cash. A red, 10-speed bike belonging to Droege was locked to a post a short distance from the car. The key to the bike lock was found inside the car.

“We believe he was probably living out of his car and biking where he wanted to go,” said Sgt. Mike Barnes of the Ventura County sheriff’s major crimes unit.

Droege’s body was discovered in the dirt lot on Rancho Road by several morning commuters who noticed the car parked in the same spot several days earlier but thought the man inside was asleep. When they saw the car parked in the same spot Monday, they walked closer, saw that the body hadn’t moved and called authorities.

Stevens said the body had already begun decomposing when it was discovered. Droege was last known to be alive last Wednesday when he used his bank card to check the balance in his account. Stevens said there was little money in the account.

Droege had lived in Ventura County for about 4 1/2 years. He apparently began living out of his car after losing his job last May as a certified public accountant for the U.S. Defense Department’s Contract Audit Agency in Oxnard.

According to Stevens, Droege was well-educated and held several graduate degrees.

Droege’s only known relative is a sister, Linda, in Indianapolis. She told Stevens that she did not know of any illnesses or health problems that might have led to her brother’s death.