Dead man found in tent behind Northland Walmart

Kansas City police are investigating the death of a man found inside a tent behind a Northland Walmart early today.

Police were called to the tent behind 8301 N. Church Road just west of Liberty about 2 a.m. Officers noted there were no footprints in the snow outside the tent and that the tent appeared to have been at the scene for a while.

They unzipped the tent and found the body of a man believed to be about 19 years old. They also found in the tent a yellow bottle of Heet, which often is used by homeless people and backpackers as fuel for alcohol stoves.

The tent was visible from nearby Interstate 35, police said.

The medical examiner’s office took custody of the body. Police did not know the man’s identity. The cause of death was not known, but foul play was not suspected, police said.