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An elderly Cullman man was found dead in his home Thursday evening, after a caregiver could not get into the residence and was forced to call the police to perform a welfare check. Authorities are treating the case as a murder investigation.

The name of the victim, a 72-year-old white male, has not been released pending the notification of next of kin. The death occurred at a home near the intersection of Alabama Highway 157 and St. Joseph Drive.

Authorities have not released a cause of death, though the case is being treated as a potential murder. The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

“We do suspect foul play at this time,” Sheriff Mike Rainey said.

The victim’s body has been sent to Huntsville in an effort to gather additional forensic evidence, as well as to have an autopsy performed.

Rainey encouraged anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious in the area to contact the sheriff’s office at 256-734-0342.