The body which was found in the basement of a block of flats in Benalmadena has been identified.
The grisly discovery was made by one of the neighbours in the Arroyo de la Miel building on Tuesday (January 27).
Police have confirmed that the corpse belongs to a 70-year-old man who had been missing for weeks prior.
Named only as Juan, sources told Diario Sur that he had been using the utility room in the building to sleep rough.
He was reported missing on January 1 and had last been seen in Benalmadena.
Missing persons charities had shared posters online in the hopes of finding him, but have since confirmed he was found dead.
The heavily decomposed body was found in a cavity in the utility room, situated by the floor and measuring no more than 40cm high, and sealed with a metal hatch.
The space is meant to house pipes and cabling, but was filled with debris.
The cavity where the body was found was so narrow that it was impossible to carry out a safe forensic examination and firefighters had to be called in to widen the opening.
The body was clothed from the waist up but in underwear. The autopsy results are still pending.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
