Officials from UNM Police Department and the state's Office of the Medical Investigator are still trying to identify a body discovered Friday inside a Student Residence Center.
UNMPD Commander James Daniels said due to the amount of decomposition that had taken place prior to the discovery of the body, police are having to use alternative methods of identification.
"Our biggest problem right now is identifying the body so we can notify next of kin," Daniels said.
He added that because of the condition of the body, a specialist is being brought in to help with identification.
Daniels could not comment on the amount of time between death and when the body was discovered.
He said the man was a UNM student in his 40s and that officials had a good idea of who he is, but were waiting for a positive identification before drawing any conclusions about his identity.
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The body was discovered Friday at about 9:30 a.m. when a "housing crew" entered the apartment-style dorm room at the SRC, Building G.
Although officials from the state's Office of the Medical Investigator and the District Attorney's office were at the SRC Friday, UNMPD is handling the investigation, Daniels said.
The incident is being investigated as a homicide, Daniels said, which is a precautionary measure when there is an "unattended death."
UNM police had the area around the apartment the body was found in taped off while officers only allowed students who live in the SRC building near the scene.
The man's body was removed from the scene late Friday afternoon.
Daniels said the cause of death is unknown and could possibly take weeks if the Office of the Medical Investigator orders toxicology tests performed.
