Churchill Downs death is a homicide case, police say

A track worker’s death at Churchill Downs is being investigated as a homicide, a spokesman for the Louisville Metro Police Department said Monday.

Adan Fabian Perez, 48, was found dead early Sunday morning in the back portion of barn No. 8. That’s several barns away from the one used by the horse I’ll Have Another, which won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

“We’re treating this as an open homicide investigation,” Dwight Mitchell, a police spokesman, said in a telephone interview. “We’re interviewing witnesses to glean more information.”

Mitchell said police do not believe the death was connected to the famed horse race.

An autopsy on Perez, a native of Guatemala, was carried out, but details are being withheld, chief deputy coroner Jo-Ann Farmer said by telephone. Framer said Perez had injuries to his body, but would not give details.

“I’m withholding the cause and manner of death at this time,” she said. “I do not want to compromise the police investigation.”

Perez was among the group of several hundred workers who are needed at the track to care and exercise the horses that race. Like most of the group, Perez and his son lived at the track area during the racing meet.

He was last seen entering the area through the front gate at around midnight and walking through the barn area. His body was discovered by his son, also a track worker, at around 4:30 a.m., officials said.

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