Four men who were found dead this morning in a van at Butler County's Santa Fe Lake were apparently homeless, authorities said.
Augusta Director of Public Safety Tyler Brewer said three of the men listed addresses of 2800 N. Hillside — the site of Wichita's Union Rescue Mission. The fourth had a Wichita address, he said.
Brewer said investigators have been unable to locate any relatives.
The four, who were found dead at 10 a.m., apparently died of carbon monoxide, Brewer said.
Brewer said the men may have left the van's heater running to take the edge off a chilly night. The overnight temperature in Wichita dipped to 42 degrees.
Brewer said the men were found inside a 15-passenger van that was registered to the Union Rescue Mission. He said the Mission sold the van last year, but the new owner apparently failed to change the tags.
No one at the Mission would comment about the men this afternoon.
The victims — ages 46, 55, 57 and 61 — had been renting a campsite at the lake for a day or two, Brewer said.
Although the park normally does not allow cars or vans, the men were in a 15-passenger van that was deemed suitable for camping.
Brewer said the men may have been doing pipeline or roofing work in the area.
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