Unhoused 63 year-old man dies from natural causes in Astoria Friday – Seaside Signal

Published 11:54 am Friday, May 1, 2026
By Abigail Jablon
At 6:01 a.m. Friday morning, the Astoria Police Department received a call of a male slumped over in a chair at Astor and Seventh streets. They arrived at 6:08 a.m. and “located a deceased 63-year-old male.” According to an APD press release, the man was known to be unhoused and the medical examiner said the death appeared to be from natural causes. “There is no reason to believe that it was related to exposure, trauma or any other suspicious circumstances,” said the press release.
The APD is asking anyone who may have information regarding the incident to contact Detective Sergio Carrera at 503-325-4411 or by email at scarrera@astoria.gov.
APD Police Chief Stacy Kelly said the man who passed away, whose name was Grant Frederick Leslie, was reportedly sitting at the bus station across from the Columbia Inn on Thursday night and made his way toward Sahara Pizza, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
David Brandon, who is currently unsheltered, said he saw “little footprints” of blood between 11 p.m. and midnight on Thursday by the Mini Mart, 95 W. Marine Dr. He said he asked Leslie if he was okay and the man responded: “Yeah, I’m okay;” and “Leave me alone.”
Brandon said he heard there was a death in the same area of town Friday morning. “I was like, oh no, no, no, please,” Brandon said.
Lorraine Veach, also lives in the unhoused community. She said she had known Leslie for several years. “He was a great harmonica player,” Veach said. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Several individuals in the unhoused community expressed concern about the incident. Several people who are camping along Fifth Street by the Riverwalk said they have been reporting cases of harassment and threats by an unknown group of men over the last few weeks. And on Friday, rumors were already spreading within the unhoused community that Leslie had been stabbed.
According to an employee at the Columbia Inn who declined to give their name, the cameras at the shelter “didn’t catch” what happened.
Kelly said rumors of suspicious activity are “ridiculous” rumors. “We are aware that rumors are circulating within the community,” Kelly said.
However, APD’s press release stated that “based on the information available, including physical evidence and witness statements, there is no reason to believe this incident is suspicious.”
The press release also stated that Leslie had frequented the local shelters. According to Osarch Orak, executive director at LIFEBoat Services, Leslie “has stayed with us since 2024 and has been sick for a long time.”
Patrick Witherbee who is now currently housed but was formerly unhoused and who is still connected to the local unhoused community, said it would be helpful if someone from APD “could go by and tell some people” that Leslie died due to natural causes.
“Because of the amount of blood, people are thinking it couldn’t have been natural causes,” Witherbee said. “Everyone is on edge.”
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

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