Man found dead after 'relationship' with girlfriend in Big Lots parking lot

No charges anticipated after body found in Fort Oglethorpe Big Lots parking lot

Police do not plan to file any criminal charges related to the death of a man found in a van outside the Big Lots in Fort Oglethorpe.

The city's police chief, Mike Helton, said the victim, 44-year-old Daniel Burns Jr., had a history of heart problems. They believe he died of natural causes.

Burns had met a woman described as his girlfriend in the parking lot Saturday night.

"There had been a relationship," Helton said, "and some form of that relationship occurred in that parking lot."

At 7 a.m. Sunday, he said, the girlfriend returned to the parking lot and found Burns unresponsive. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Fort Oglethorpe police officers and the Catoosa County coroner all believe he died from a heart-related problem.

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