UPDATED

Man found dead on Horseneck Road in apparent homicide

Jul 14, 2020

The victim has since been identified by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office as 27-year-old Jose Cortez Cornejo of New Bedford.

An unidentified man found dead this morning on Horseneck Road may be the victim of a homicide that took place in Dartmouth some time late last night or early this morning, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

According to a press release from the office, Dartmouth Police received a 911 call from a motorist at 5:10 a.m. on July 14.

The person reported seeing a man collapsed on the side of the road near 180 Horseneck Road. Police and paramedics determined the man to be deceased after arriving on scene.

Based on evidence gathered during the preliminary investigation, officials believe the man may be the victim of a homicide, the press release stated.

Dartmouth Police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are actively investigating the apparent homicide, according to the release.​

Police closed Horseneck Road from Tannery Lane to Barney’s Joy for several hours this morning as part of the investigation.

The state Medical Examiner's Office will take custody of the body to perform an autopsy in the near future. 

According to the district attorney’s office, once the victim's next of kin is located and notified of his death, the office will publicly identify him.

Any residents with any information regarding this case or who may have been in the area of 180 Horseneck Road between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. are urged to contact Dartmouth Police or the district attorney’s office.

Anonymous tips can be texted to the office by texting the word “Bristol” to the phone number CRIMES (274637), followed by the tip. A web-based anonymous tip can be submitted at this website.