Gallup Police Department detectives are up in the air on the cause of death of Derek Smith, 38, of Gallup. Police were called to the scene shortly after 9 am on Jan. 26.
Smith was found with his pants down to his knees in an arroyo behind Crystal Car Wash on 2620 E. Aztec. He wasn't wearing a coat, and was dressed in a grey sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black Nike shoes. He appeared to have a blood stain on the back of his sweatshirt and blood on his head.
It's not clear how long the man was down and out in the arroyo, but a police department official said it was at least through the overnight hours.
The victim's cause of death is under investigation, and autopsy and toxicology results are pending. Autopsy, or cause of death, should be revealed to police within 24-48 hours.
"It takes 6 to 8 weeks for toxicology test results to come in," GPD Capt. Rick White said.
