An Española man died Sunday of a suspected drug overdose, according to Espanola Police.
Manuel Lujan, 36, was found in a ditch near Santa Clara Apartments by Española firefighter and Holmes Tow-truck operator Cesar Vargas, according to Espanola Police Sgt. Richard Gallegos.
An empty syringe found at the scene and a history of heroin use reported by his family led police to suspect drug overdose caused Lujan’s death, Gallegos said.
Lujan had stopped using heroin and had moved to Albuquerque, but relapsed within the past few months after moving back to Espanola, Gallegos said.
Lujan’s official cause of death will not be released until results of toxicology testing are received, state Office of the Medical Investigator Records Technician Anthony Cervantes said Monday.