Police unable to explain man's death after body found in grounds of Wolverhampton school
Smestow Academy said it will be open as usual on Wednesday, after closing early on Monday and throughout Tuesday while police investigated.
Tuesday 20 January 2026 16:27, UK
The death of a man whose body was found at a Wolverhampton school is being treated as unexplained, police have said.
The 45-year-old was found with injuries on the grounds of Smestow Academy on Monday morning, West Midlands Police said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The force said the man was last seen at 1am on Monday, on Wheatsheaf Road in Wolverhampton.
He was then spotted on the school grounds, on Windmill Crescent, at 7.15am.
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Smestow Academy closed on Monday and Tuesday, following the incident that it said was not connected to the school.
In a statement, the force said: "Specialist detectives are supporting his loved ones at this tragic time.
"We are currently treating his death as unexplained, and officers are reviewing CCTV footage from around the area to establish exactly what happened."
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole, appealing for information, added: "We are in the early stages of our investigation, and I would ask that people do not speculate on the circumstances.
"We know this has caused concern in the community and there will be extra officers in the area for reassurance."
The man was last seen wearing a distinctive camouflage jacket, grey gilet, jeans, and a beanie hat, and was carrying a red rucksack. He may have been wearing sunglasses.
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Smestow Academy said it would open as usual on Wednesday, and confirmed in a statement that a body had been found at the edge of the school grounds.
"Police asked us to close so they could make headway with their investigation," the school said.
"The police have now given us the go ahead to open as usual tomorrow. There will be pupil assemblies throughout the morning to reassure them."