SAN ANTONIO, Texas — August 20, 2026 — San Antonio police are investigating the discovery of a decomposed man’s body found Thursday morning in the attic area of an abandoned motel on the city’s Northeast Side.
According to the San Antonio Police Department, officers were called to the property at approximately 8:45 a.m. Thursday in the 9500 block of Interstate 35, near Whirlwind Drive. When officers searched the vacant property, they discovered the man’s remains in an attic area of the building.
The condition of the body has made the early stages of the investigation particularly difficult. Police said the remains were significantly decomposed, and investigators have not yet determined how the man died or how long he may have been inside the building.
Police Have Not Determined Whether Foul Play Was Involved
Authorities have not announced evidence establishing that the death was a homicide.
SAPD said investigators currently cannot determine whether foul play was involved because of the advanced state of decomposition. Police indicated that several explanations remain possible, including a drug overdose or death from natural causes.
That means the case remains an unexplained death investigation rather than a confirmed homicide investigation unless additional evidence changes that assessment.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to conduct an examination to determine the official cause and manner of death.
The medical examiner’s findings could help investigators determine whether the death resulted from natural causes, an accident, an overdose, suicide, homicide or another circumstance.
Body Found Inside Vacant Motel
Police described the property where the body was discovered as an abandoned motel that has attracted people experiencing homelessness. SAPD reportedly referred to the vacant property as a location where homeless individuals have frequently stayed.
A separate local report from KENS 5 also identified the case as involving a body discovered in the attic of a vacant building on San Antonio’s Northeast Side.
The discovery raises questions about how long the man had been inside the property and whether anyone staying in or entering the abandoned structure may have encountered him before authorities were contacted.
Police have not publicly released details explaining who initially discovered the body or what prompted officers to search the attic.
Identity of the Man Has Not Been Released
As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had not publicly identified the deceased man.
Investigators will typically work with the medical examiner to confirm a person’s identity using available evidence such as fingerprints, dental records, medical records, identification found at the scene or, in more difficult cases, DNA testing.
Once an identification is confirmed, authorities generally attempt to notify the person’s next of kin before releasing a name publicly.
No age or other identifying information about the man had been officially announced in the initial police report.
Investigation Remains Active
The discovery occurred as officers and investigators responded to the Northeast Side property Thursday morning. Images from the scene showed San Antonio Police Department vehicles outside the deteriorating motel while investigators worked around the building.
At this stage, police have not announced any arrests, suspects or evidence indicating another person was responsible for the man’s death.
Authorities also have not publicly disclosed whether investigators found drugs, weapons, personal belongings or other evidence near the body.
Those details could become important as detectives attempt to reconstruct the man’s final hours or days.
The exact timeline remains unknown, including when the man entered the abandoned motel, when he died and how long his remains had been in the attic before being discovered.
Medical Examiner Could Provide Critical Answers
The next major development in the investigation is expected to come from the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.
An autopsy and other forensic examinations may determine whether the man suffered traumatic injuries or whether toxicology results indicate drugs or another substance contributed to his death.
Because of the decomposition reported by police, determining an exact cause of death could take additional time.
Toxicology testing in particular can sometimes require weeks before final results are available.
Until those findings are completed, authorities are leaving open multiple possibilities.
Concerns Surrounding Abandoned Properties
The case also highlights broader safety concerns associated with vacant and deteriorating buildings.
Abandoned hotels, apartments and commercial properties can sometimes become informal shelter for people who have nowhere else to stay. Such structures can present serious hazards, including unstable floors and ceilings, exposed wiring, fire dangers, unsanitary conditions and difficulty accessing emergency assistance.
When someone dies alone inside an isolated section of such a property, especially an attic or sealed room, considerable time can pass before the death is discovered.
Police have not said whether the motel was secured or whether people were regularly entering the property.
What Happens Next
SAPD is expected to continue gathering evidence while awaiting the medical examiner’s findings.
Investigators could examine surveillance footage from surrounding businesses, speak with people familiar with the motel and attempt to determine who had recently been staying at the property.
The medical examiner will ultimately be responsible for determining the man’s official cause and manner of death.
If forensic evidence indicates that another person caused the death, the investigation could then develop into a criminal homicide case.
If the evidence instead points to an overdose, illness or another noncriminal cause, police could close the criminal portion of the investigation after completing their review.
For now, the circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain unresolved.
The case remains a developing investigation, and additional information — including the man’s identity, estimated time of death and official cause of death — is expected as authorities complete their investigation.
This story will be updated as additional information is released by the San Antonio Police Department or Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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