Man found dead in alleyway was 'just trying to get home'

The tragic death of John Nelson, a 56-year-old Minnesota man found deceased in a Nashville alleyway last month, has sparked a conversation about the vulnerability of those navigating mental health crises while travelling.

Nelson, who had spent years rebuilding his life, was discovered unresponsive underneath a staircase on 20 February.

Police confirmed that no foul play is suspected, and CCTV footage showed him walking alone shortly after midnight.

His journey began in January when an old warrant required him to travel to New Mexico. After the charges were dismissed, Nelson attempted to return home to Brainerd via a Greyhound bus.

However, his friend Erika Klasse revealed that he had been without his essential psychiatric medication for weeks.

Upon reaching a connection in Nashville on 13 February, Nelson stepped out for a cigarette, missed his bus, and was subsequently removed from the station.

“He had a home, and he was trying to make his way back,” Klasse told PEOPLE, expressing her belief that strangers likely judged him without knowing his progress.

For the past decade, Nelson had found stability living on Klasse’s property, becoming a beloved "uncle" to her children. Despite his troubled past, he had remained sober and law-abiding since 2019.

In a heartbreaking final update, his niece, Ashley Cockman, shared that even his cherished pet rabbit, Ice Cream, has since passed away.

Family and friends are now left to mourn a man who, despite his struggles, was simply trying to find his way to the people who loved him.