Villager’s body found in brook behind Maplewood Library

Photo by Yael Katzwer Maplewood police close off the Maplewood Memorial Library parking lot on Baker Street on Dec. 11 for an investigation into the discovery of a body of a South Orange man found in the brook behind the library.
Photo by Yael Katzwer
Maplewood police close off the Maplewood Memorial Library parking lot on Baker Street on Dec. 11 for an investigation into the discovery of a body of a South Orange man found in the brook behind the library.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Police were out in force the morning of Friday, Dec. 11, in the area of Maplewood Memorial Library’s main building on Baker Street after a body was found in the brook in Memorial Park.

The deceased was identified as Lawrence Mancuso, 61, of South Orange.

With the area cordoned off since approximately 8:15 a.m., the police, who were joined by investigators from the Essex County Medical Examiner’s Office, removed the body at approximately 11:30 a.m. and determined, according to police on Dec. 11, that the death was “not suspicious,” although the investigation will continue to determine the exact cause of death.

The investigation had caused a major portion of the brook and library’s parking lot to be blocked off; it also prompted the library to have a delayed opening.

This is all the information available at this time.