Body covered in lacerations found at playground in Central Park: police

CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (WABC) -- A Central Park worker discovered a body at a playground in the park on Monday morning.

Police responded to a call of a dead body on the south side of Central Park near E. 62nd Street at Heckscher Playground around 8:30 a.m.

It appears the victim died in the middle of the night -- either in or near the bathroom at the playground.

Authorities said later Monday afternoon the victim appeared to be a 36-year-old man who had several "superficial" wounds to the stomach, chest and neck area.

Police are conducting a thorough investigation but preliminarily believe those wounds were self-inflicted.



A knife was recovered on the victim in the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt.
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The medical examiner will determine the cause of death. The individual has not yet been identified by police.

Police do not believe the victim was homeless and said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
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