Peoria County Coroner: Man dies from hypothermia in Walmart parking lot

Posted on February 14, 2020
The case remains under investigation by the Peoria Police Department. (Facebook/Peoria County Coroner’s Office)

 

By Neil Doyle

PEORIA – Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood has identified a man who died from hypothermia while living out of his vehicle.

Michael T. Balicki, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene. Balicki was reportedly homeless and apparently living out of his car, according to Harwood.

Harwood said officers were called around 12:40 p.m. Thursday to the Walmart parking lot at 3315 N. University St., after a bystander noted a vehicle parked on the north side of the lot covered in snow.  When officers arrived they found a man inside the vehicle covered in blankets, unresponsive, and not breathing.

The coroner said an autopsy Friday showed that Balicki died from cold exposure, known as hypothermia.  There was no evidence of trauma, injury, or foul play.

The case remains under investigation by the Peoria Police Department.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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