Prince Albert man likely froze to death, autopsy suggests

Initial findings from an autopsy suggest a Prince Albert man whose body was found near a retail store earlier in the week likely died of hypothermia.

James Benjamin Roberts, 49, was discovered Tuesday morning in some brush near a craft store in the city's east end.

Workers at the store told CBC News the man was in the business the night before, looking to warm up, but was asked to leave because he was reportedly intoxicated.

According to police, Roberts did not have a permanent address in Prince Albert.

Edna Bruce, the manager of a YWCA shelter in the city, said they had room on Monday night but Roberts did not stop by.

"I feel terrible that he didn't come to us for help," Bruce told CBC News Friday. "We have a few people staying here that were friends of his. It just threw them for a loop, they were just devastated."

Bruce added that Roberts had stayed a couple of nights at the YWCA in the past, but that was about four years ago.

Since then, she said, she had only seen him when he would drop in for a cup of coffee.

"He came in here probably three times a week, sat quietly having coffee, because we serve coffee in the lobby, and warmed up and left," she said, adding he never asked for items, such as socks or clothes.

Roberts, who was also known as James Dahl, was found at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Police have said foul play was not a factor in the man's death.