Cold May Have Been Factor in 2 Homeless Deaths

A homeless man in his 50s and a homeless woman were found dead today in Costa Mesa within blocks of each other and hours apart, but there were no apparent signs of foul play or that the deaths were connected, police said.

The body of Robert Collins was found about 2:30 a.m. in the 400 block of West 19th Street, Costa Mesa police Lt. Bryan Glass said.

The body of the woman, whose name was not immediately released, was found about noon in the 100 block of East 17th Street, Glass added.

Their deaths did not appear to be suspicious, but the cold may have been a factor in their deaths, Glass said.

``Obviously we've been facing extreme weather conditions over the past several days,'' Glass said.

Investigators will not know for certain if the deaths were connected to the weather until autopsies are completed, Glass said.

Do you know of resources to help get the local homeless population through this cold snap?  Do you know ways you or your neighbors can help? Share them in the comments.

 - City News Service