A death investigation was conducted following the discovery of a body near a storage unit early Friday afternoon in Columbia. 

At about 12:05 p.m., a woman called 911 to report what looked to be a body lying behind a building at Shell Storage, located at 223 Southwoods Drive off Route 3. 

An unoccupied vehicle was also found nearby.

Upon arrival, responding Columbia police officers requested the Monroe County coroner to the scene. 

An Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services unit was contacted to conduct a death investigation. 

Columbia Police Chief Jason Donjon said ISP was called as a precaution and to rule out the possibility of foul play. 

There are no suspicious circumstances involving this death, Donjon assured, and officials ruled out foul play. 

Monroe County Coroner Bob Hill told the Republic-Times on Monday that Deputy Coroner Ann Rudloff pronounced a 65-year-old St. Louis man deceased on scene.

“Investigation shows that the deceased male rented a storage unit at the property and walked behind the units, where he had a cardiac event,” Hill said. “This is being investigated as a natural death.”

Hill said the name of the deceased is being withheld at this time pending family notification.