‘Suspicious Death’: Strong Odor Leads Passerby to Body Behind Saratoga Business

A man’s body was found behind a Saratoga business, Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies said Saturday.

Sgt. James Jensen said a passerby smelled a very strong odor and alerted police around 11 a.m. Deputies located the body on the 14000 block of Big Basin Way, next to the Saratoga Village Center and behind the city's Chamber of Commerce.

Jensen did not reveal whether the incident has been ruled a homicide and if the man was wounded in any way.

"He has been deceased for some time now," he said. "Out of abundance of caution, we called out our homicide detectives and CSI team, but right now we just consider this a suspicious death."

A man who said he knew the victim said he was a white man in his 50s and was connected to a nearby business owner. Police did not confirm this information.

Investigators spent all afternoon on the scene in the quiet, affluent neighborhood.

The medical examiner was called to the scene, but police said there were no reports of gunfire or emergency calls prior to the body's discovery.