SoCal transient death not part of series

SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Police in Southern California say the recent death of a homeless man did not appear to be the work of a suspected serial killer in the area.

Investigators said the middle-aged man discovered dead behind a tire store in Santa Ana had not been stabbed as three other homeless victims had been.

"There's nothing that leads us to believe it's related to the serial killings," said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Police nevertheless contacted a task force, formed in Orange County last week after the stabbing deaths of three transients in Anaheim, Yorba Linda and Placentia, the Los Angeles Times said.

An autopsy was planned for Tuesday on the body, which was identified only as that of a 49-year-old male.

A man who said he knew the most recent victim told the Times he had seen him in the area late Sunday, apparently heavily intoxicated.