A dead body was found at Boulder Creek Elementary School on a second-story balcony early this morning prompting the cancelation of school for the day.
A teacher discovered the body of a white man in his 30’s or 40’s around 7:10 a.m., according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were at the scene by 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, Sgt. Dan Campos said.
He was not a school employee, Campos said.
“It’s suspicious. We’re treating it as a homicide investigation,” Campos said.
Campos also said a truck was found parked on the campus that is likely connected with the dead body.
“Staff said the truck wasn’t there yesterday afternoon, so whatever happened probably occurred yesterday evening or early this morning,” Campos said.
The man’s identity is known but investigators aren’t releasing the information until his family members have been notified, Campos said.
Campos confirmed that the person found dead is not from the area. He could not say if he thought the dead body was the result of suicide. Blood was found at the scene, Campos said.
“It’s too soon to tell,” Campos said. The balcony where the body was found is a free-standing classroom building toward the back of the school.
Steve Burley, director of maintenance for Boulder Creek Elementary said parents were notified via e-mail and phone calls. Staff went to all the school bus stops as well, Burley said.
“Students that were already on campus were picked up by their parents,” Burley said.
Several residents in the West Lomond Street and Oak Street neighborhood said the area was quiet on the morning of the discovery, but some saw police cars.
Boulder Creek Elementary serves about 500 students. The students had been on spring break and were supposed to return for their first day back this morning. School staff said that school is expected to be back in session on Tuesday, April 13.
The San Lorenzo Valley School District is holding a meeting for parents to discuss what happened and give tips on how to talk to their children about death, tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13 at 8:30 a.m. in the Boulder Creek Elementary Multi-use Room. Counselors will be at school to talk with students and staff.
