Idaho Falls Police continue to investigate homicide

Update for August 19, 2015: Police are continuing to investigate the case but do not have any updates to release at this time.

Idaho Falls Police are investigating a homicide after finding a body at a playground in Tautphaus Park Sunday morning.

According to the police, the public is safe because they say they believe someone targeted the victim 31-year-old Deraek Patrick Larson. Even with IFPD’s assurance some community members are still feeling a little uneasy.

“If I would have known about it I definitely wouldn’t have came to the park today I would have waited,” said Kelly Jenkins, who was at another playground in Tautphaus Park.

Homicides are not something many people expect in Idaho Falls and what many people find more disturbing is where the body was found.

“At a kids playground,” Jenkins said. “That’s sick to me.”

Idaho Falls Police said they got the call just after 10 a.m Sunday. Police said he was found on the playground near the tennis courts on Soft Ball Drive stripped down to his boxers.

Police are in the early stages of the investigation.

“You have to take time and very slowly and methodically put it together, figure out what’s going on and come to a final conclusion and solution. Obviously what we want is the solution: who did it and why,” Police Chief Mark McBride said.

Police do not know the exact cause of death. They will know that once the autopsy, which is scheduled for Monday, is done.