Crystal Lake boy finds dead man near school playground

A 10-year-old boy playing outside West Elementary School in Crystal Lake Sunday discovered a dead body slumped against one of the school's doorways, police said.

The McHenry County coroner's office today identified the man as Kevin Howard, 25, of Crystal Lake.

An autopsy performed Monday was inconclusive, but there was no indication Howard died of natural causes, Deputy Coroner Robert Locke said.

Coroner Marlene Lantz said Howard's death may be linked to substance abuse. There were no obvious signs of trauma, she said.

Her office has ordered a toxicology test to determine what was in Howard's system at the time of his death. Results should be released in a month, Lantz said.

Meanwhile, Crystal Lake police have determined that Howard's death was suspicious.

"Any death that doesn't have an obvious medical reason behind it is classified as a suspicious death," Deputy Chief Dennis Harris said.

The boy discovered the body at 3 p.m. Sunday, Harris said. Believing the man was unconscious, the boy went home and told his mother, who then called police.

Authorities do not know how long Howard had been dead or how long his body was at the school.

Police notified school officials about the boy's discovery, and counseling is available to the boy if he needs it, Harris said.