Human remains identified as 63-year-old; death investigated as suspicious

OCALA, Fla. – Deputies have identified human remains found Saturday afternoon as those of a 63-year-old man and are investigating his death as suspicious, according to officials from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies went to the 5300 block of Northwest 17th Street in the Ocala Ridge subdivision around 2 p.m. regarding human remains that were found there.

Authorities identified the remains as those of Melvin Thompkins. No other information has been released about the victim.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective Travis O'Cull at 352-369-6805 or the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 353-368-STOP.