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WESTMINSTER (CNS) - Westminster police Tuesday released photos of a 62- year-old man who had been homeless since 2020 and found dead at a church with obvious signs of trauma consistent with a homicide.
Westminster Police Department officers responded to the Orange Korean Evangelical Church in the 13500 block of Goldenwest Street, near Trask Avenue, regarding a welfare check shortly after 3:35 p.m. Friday and found the body of Stephen Smallwood, Sgt. Eddie Esqueda said.
Smallwood was known to frequent the area around the church and the post office at 13761 Goldenwest St., Deputy Chief Cameron Knauerhaze said in a statement.
"Some witnesses state he was last seen alive as late as Jan. 4 in that same area," Knauerhaze said. "We are hoping by releasing the victim's photo to the media, witnesses will come forward and assist us in this case."
Anyone with information on the killing was urged to call Detective Jonathan Figueroa with the Westminster Police Department Detective Bureau at 714-548-3783. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.