RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City police say the deceased male located Sunday morning in a water drainage tunnel near East Boulevard and Omaha St. has been identified as 52-year-old Duane Yellow Cloud of Rapid City.
In a release, police say an autopsy performed in the investigation revealed no evidence of traumatic injury.
During the investigation, police found evidence that these water drainage tunnels have been used as shelter intermittently by members of the city’s homeless population. It is believed Yellow Cloud was using the tunnel as shelter when he died.
His heavy clothing indicates he died during the winter months. Recent heavy rains likely swept his body to the gated runoff tunnel where he was discovered.
Police stated “there is no way to describe this situation as anything but tragic, and the collective sympathies of the RCPD go out to Mr. Yellow Cloud’s family and friends in the wake of his passing.”
