The body of Cranston resident Joseph Rubeira, 57, was discovered at Salter Grove Memorial Park at 450 Narragansett Parkway in Warwick on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Rubeira, whose identity was confirmed by his driver’s license, was found by a man around 7:26 p.m. when he went into a wooded area. After discovering the male and finding him to be unresponsive, the man called Warwick Police, who arrived and secured the scene.

Officer Aaron Kay spoke with the reporting party, who showed him where he found the body, which was off in the grass toward the wood line toward the water. Kay said he located a white male who was lying on his stomach, with his head pointed down to the ground in between two large boulders. He said the man’s knees and legs were partially tucked underneath his body along with his right arm, while his left arm was lying on the rock toward the top of his head. He said the man was cold to the touch, appeared stiff, and his skin and face were bluish in color. Kay attempted to check the man’s pulse and touched him on the back of the neck, but he was not responsive.

In an effort to determine if the man was still alive, Warwick Fire Department personnel rolled him onto his back and were able to confirm he was deceased. As he was rolled onto his back, Kay said he noticed the long sleeve of the man’s right arm was rolled up and there was a loaded hypodermic needle, known to be used for intravenous drugs, in his right hand, which fell to the ground as he was rolled over. He also noticed the man had a hospital identification bracelet on his right wrist with the name of Joseph Rubeira.

After police confirmed the male was deceased, officers secured the area with crime scene tape and contacted the medical examiner. While waiting for the medical examiner, a detective responded to take photographs of the scene and Rubeira’s identity was confirmed through his driver’s license photo and his image on Winfax.

Medical Examiner Robert Robinson responded to the area about two hours later. He was shown the scene and took photographs of the male and the property in and around him. He then took custody of the body.

Warwick Police Chief Col. Stephen McCartney said yesterday that Rubeira died of an overdose.