Body found near Troy shopping plaza is homeless man who died in his sleep: sources

TROY, Mich. (WJBK) - Authorities are working to identify the man whose remains were found near a popular shopping plaza in Troy. 

Police say human remains were found in an empty lot south of the shopping plaza at Coolidge and Maple. We're told a skull and some bones were found near the railroad tracks. 

Sources tell us the remains have apparently been there for some time, due to the condition of the bones. 

Sources tell us, at this time, they believe a homeless man died in his sleep while he was lying in a shelter made of sticks. Sources say investigators believe animals got to the body, explaining the poor condition in which the remains were found. 

The remains have been sent to the medical examier's office, which is working to identify the man and notify family. 

Owners at the nearby shopping plaza assure us they are not associated with this, and shopping is safe in the area. The remains were not found on the property of the shopping plaza. They were found in between the shopping plaza and the recycling center on Coolidge. 

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.