Police: Man found dead near vacant house

A man was found dead outside a vacant house at 536 Hamilton St. in Costa Mesa about 11 a.m. Monday, police said.

The death is being investigated as a possible homicide, said Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott.

“His body was just to the rear of the property,” he said.

Police wouldn’t release the man’s identity or why he might have been at the house.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jeff Hallock said Tuesday that the coroner’s office was waiting for notification of next of kin. He said an autopsy could be done Wednesday or Thursday.

Near the front door was a sign reading “Debbie’s House.”

Police blocked Hamilton Street from Charle Street to Maple Avenue during their investigation Monday.

Marina Renka, owner with her husband of nearby Rudy’s Garage, said the neighborhood is generally quiet.

“If anything happens here, it happens at night,” she said.

[For the record, 2 p.m. Sept. 10: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Pat Moore Foundation owns and operates the home at 536 Hamilton St. In fact, Pat Moore Foundation does not own the property.]