72-Year-Old Man Found Dead in Fresno Apartment, Homicide Suspected

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A 72-year-old man named Leon Conway was found dead inside his Central Fresno apartment earlier this month, and authorities have determined his death was a homicide. Police responded to a welfare check after neighbors reported not seeing or hearing from Conway for several days, and discovered his body inside the apartment. An autopsy revealed Conway had sustained blunt force trauma, and investigators believe he was involved in an argument with someone he had allowed into his residence.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and the need for thorough investigations into suspicious deaths. Homicides can have a profound impact on local neighborhoods, and solving these cases is crucial for providing closure and preventing future violence.

The details

When officers with the Central Policing District responded to the apartment complex near First Street and Dayton Avenue on February 12th, they forced entry into Conway's residence and found him deceased inside. The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office assisted with the on-scene investigation, and an autopsy later determined that Conway had sustained blunt force trauma, ruling his death a homicide. Detectives learned that Conway lived alone but frequently allowed various individuals to come and go from his home, and they believe he was involved in an argument with one of those individuals that turned physical and resulted in his death.

• On February 12, 2026, police responded to a welfare check at Conway's apartment.
• An autopsy later revealed that Conway's death was ruled a homicide.

What’s next

Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Conway's death and are asking anyone with information to come forward. The Fresno Police Department is urging the public to contact Crime Stoppers or specific detectives if they have any details that could aid the homicide investigation.