Man Found Dead By Highway 29 In McDavid Was In Prison 10 Days Prior

August 13, 2010

The man found dead by Highway 29 in McDavid on Tuesday had been released from a Florida prison just 10 before his body was discovered.

The body of Donald Freeman, 49, was found by a road crew near the West Fraser McDavid sawmill.

“We have ruled out any blunt force trauma, and there are no signs of foul play,” said Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Roy also said there were no obvious signs of trauma that would indicate Freeman was struck by a passing vehicle. His death is no longer being treated as a homicide.

Freeman was believed to be walking toward Century were he had friends or relatives, Roy said.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Freeman was released July 31 from the Apalachee Correctional Institution, West Unit in Sneads. He was sentenced to state prison in 2006 for aggravated assault with a weapon without the intent to kill and cocaine possession.

Authorities are still trying to piece together what happened in the hours leading up to Freeman’s death, and Roy said the cause of Freeman’s death is still unknown. He said the department is still waiting for toxicology and additional test results.

Click here for a photo gallery from the scene.

Click here for raw news video from the scene.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Man Found Dead By Highway 29 In McDavid Was In Prison 10 Days Prior”

  1. SICKOFMORONS on August 18th, 2010 7:47 am

    Are you guys serious????? The Sheriffs Dept does not do autopsy’s, when they find a dead body they take measurements and collect all if any evidence, but upon their findings, nothing was suspicious, therefore they wait for autopsy which is conducted by the medical examiner, which may find the reason for death, or may not….wow…really?

  2. David Huie Green on August 17th, 2010 10:29 pm

    you do your autopsy your way and they’ll do…..

    Methinks the measuring of the scene was not an autopsy

  3. JW on August 14th, 2010 11:27 pm

    autopsies? looks like he’s holding a tape measure to me.

  4. carl & Sylvia on August 13th, 2010 4:09 pm

    I feel so bad for his family. I pray God will comfort and give them peace. So very sad!

  5. Chrissy on August 13th, 2010 3:55 pm

    this is really sad = (

  6. David Huie Green on August 13th, 2010 10:45 am

    why? is david preston doing autopsies?

  7. Thinker on August 13th, 2010 10:40 am

    It’s not hard to imagine he was hitch-hiking or just hiking, and never thought to bring water along…resulting in heat prostration. Even if he did, lately a bottle or even two might not be enough. But there are many ways a man of his age could succumb under the stress of the heat.

  8. Just An Old Soldier on August 13th, 2010 9:38 am

    No test for heat stroke but there are indicators that could point to it….may God have Mercy on this poor man’s soul and grant Peace to his family.

  9. JW on August 13th, 2010 9:29 am

    David Preston for county commissioner

  10. kathy on August 13th, 2010 7:36 am

    I’ve wondered the same thing..It’s been so hot…

  11. David Huie Green on August 13th, 2010 1:31 am

    wonder if they can test for heat stroke