Body found at old Tiger Stadium identifed as U.P. man

Paul Pesola of Pelkie was found Saturday morning

DETROIT – A body that was discovered Saturday at the site of old Tiger Stadium has been identified. 

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday said the body is Paul Pesola, 45, of Pelkie -- which is in the Upper Peninsula. 

Pesola's body was found at about 6 a.m. near Michigan and Trumbull avenues. 

When Mario Gjola came into work, something at the old Tiger Stadium lot caught his attention.

"I proceeded up front, turned the lights on and look out the window and saw what looked like a body laying in the park," Gjola said. "It's a pretty big thing. To find a dead body anywhere is not a good thing."

A traffic accident occurred at the intersection at about 1 a.m. and police are determining if the crash is connected. Police believe the body, which was found several feet from the intersection and on the other side of the gate, could be connected to the car accident hours before, and that the body could have been overlooked.

"All I can say I hope they didn't, but if they did, anybody can make a mistake," Gjola said.

A friend of the deceased man told Local 4 News he is certain the 37-year-old was not there at the time of the accident hours before.

"I was leaning up against the pole. I was standing right here. I would have noticed a body laying here," the friend said.

The stadium has been vacant since the last game was played there in 1999. The Detroit Police Athletic League is building a new headquarters on the site that would preserve the old field for youth sports activities.