Bitter cold likely cause of transient’s death in Carson City

Associated Press

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 | 3:38 p.m.

RENO — The bitter cold gripping much of the nation has apparently turned deadly in northern Nevada.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong says a 53-year-old transient was found dead about 11:40 a.m. Thursday behind a convenience store in the state's capital.

He says no foul play is suspected and the likely cause of death is exposure to extreme cold.

Carson City's low temperature bottomed out at 18 degrees overnight. But the high hasn't been over 25 for two days.

In northeast Nevada, the low fell to a record 23-below zero in Ely near the Utah line.

Sheriff Furlong says an investigation into the man's death is continuing. He told the Nevada Appeal they had a similar death in cold weather two years ago when the homeless shelter filled to capacity.