Coroner’s Officials Seek Man’s Relatives
Coroner’s officials are seeking the relatives of a homeless man whose body was found along railroad tracks in downtown Ventura last week.
The body of Joseph Michael Strickland, 43, was found about 6 a.m. April 25 by a man on a morning walk with his dog. An autopsy showed the man had died of a head injury, authorities said.
Deputy Coroner James Baroni said Strickland, born in Gary, Ind., had moved to Ventura County about 15 years ago and was well-known in the homeless community. Strickland had recently lived in shelters in Ventura and Oxnard.
Strickland, who suffered from alcoholism and schizophrenia, stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighed about 180 pounds and had blue eyes and blond hair. He had a partly amputated left index finger, and while clean-shaven when he died, had been known to sport a large beard.
Anyone knowing Strickland’s family may call 641-4400.
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