A body was found Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of East Villanova Place and South Flanders Way in Aurora's Sterling Hills neighborhood. Aurora police said a preliminary investigation indicated an apparent suicide, but the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office has not confirmed the official cause or manner of death. Officers were called to the area at about 1 p.m.
Agent Kristopher McDowell said the preliminary investigation indicated an apparent suicide, according to Sentinel Colorado. Police released no other details and extended condolences to the person's family and loved ones.
Coroner Will Determine Official Cause of Death
Under Colorado law, the final word on how the person died does not rest with Aurora police at all. Colorado Revised Statutes § 30-10-606 requires law-enforcement notification and directs coroners to investigate specified deaths and determine cause and manner of death, according to Justia Law. The statute also calls for law-enforcement notification and cooperation with the coroner. The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office will release the identity of the person at a later date, and the office is expected to determine the official cause of death.
Colorado death investigation guidelines also explain why bodies remain in place for a period after discovery. State law restricts removing a deceased person from the scene before a coroner or designee arrives, with exceptions for identification, property protection, evidence preservation, or protecting life, health, or safety, according to the Boulder County Government. Full autopsy and toxicology findings typically take 10 to 12 weeks to complete before a death certificate is certified, per the Adams & Broomfield Counties Office of the Coroner.
A Quiet Corner of Sterling Hills
The intersection where the body was found is in the Sterling Hills neighborhood, according to the City of Aurora. Sterling Hills is a master-planned suburban neighborhood in southeast Aurora with an estimated population of roughly 8,900 residents, known for single-family homes, parks, and walking trails, per Niche. Residents commonly use the area's streets and adjacent paths for outdoor recreation.
The discovery comes just days after Hoodline reported on a separate shelter-in-place near South Oakland Way tied to a man experiencing a mental health crisis, underscoring how frequently Aurora police are responding to behavioral health emergencies across the city. The department operates a Crisis Response Team.
Statewide Trends and Where to Find Help
Colorado's overall suicide fatality rate held statistically steady in 2024 at 20.83 per 100,000 residents, with working-age adults between 25 and 64 accounting for 69% of all suicide deaths and men representing 77% of fatalities across all age groups, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Firearms were the most common method statewide, accounting for 54% of suicide deaths overall, the same agency reports. The department has also reported on suicide rates.
People seeking emotional support can dial 988, according to Yellow Scene Magazine. The service provides emotional support.
Non-police crisis care in Aurora
Aurora Mental Health & Recovery says its crisis walk-in clinic at 1290 S. Potomac St. is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, for people seeking help independently or brought by first responders. The clinic can be reached at (303) 617-2300, according to Aurora Mental Health & Recovery.
