An autopsy should determine why a Sloansville man died while sleeping in his car overnight Saturday at a friend's house in the Village of Schoharie.
The autopsy, which was scheduled for Tuesday at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, will also determine whether any criminal charges will be filed in the death, according to Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond.
Foul play is not suspected, police said.
Mark Trendell, 35, was found dead in his car in a driveway on Orchard Street in the Village of Schoharie at about 11:40am Sunday, police reported.
The car was still running and the heat was on when a family member from the home went out to check on Mr. Trendell, Sheriff Desmond added.
Mr. Trendell was found to be unresponsive. A resident from the home called 911, police said, and police and Scho-Wright personnel responded and found that Mr. Trendell had died. Coroner Donna McGovern ordered the body taken to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady for an autopsy.
Officials had hoped to have an autopsy performed on Monday but it as pushed back to Tuesday at the earliest, according to Sheriff Desmond.
Mr. Trendell apparently was not suffering from any health issues and the autopsy will determine if there were any substances in his body at the time of his death, the Sheriff added.
Mr. Trendell's vehicle was in the driveway of the home when the homeowner arrived at about 7:30pm. The Sheriff did not release the name of the homeowner.
Mr. Trendell, according to Sheriff Desmond, said, "I'm going to sleep in the car tonight."
The homeowner gave Mr. Trendell permission to stay in the driveway.
It is not known whether Mr. Trendell had the heat on in his car the entire night or turned it on during the night, Sheriff Desmond said. The temperatures dropped below zero in the region Saturday night.
The autopsy results should answer most questions, the Sheriff added.
"We're checking out several things."
Right now, he does not see any charges being filed, "but we'll know more after the autopsy.
"Right now I don't see anything."
The Sheriff's office, with assistance from the Schoharie Village Police, continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.