Law enforcement officials in West Milford, NJ are looking into recent the death of a longtime township resident.

The victim was an 85-year-old man who had lived in West Milford since the 1970s. His body was reportedly found in the septic tank at his home on Morsetown Road.

According to authorities, the victim began working on the septic system at his house at around 9:00 a.m. His body was not discovered until 5:00 p.m.

Emergency medical crews rushed to the scene, but it was too late to do anything to save the victim’s life. The victim was pronounced dead at the site.

Detectives with the West Milford Police Department investigated and determined that the victim may have been electrocuted while doing the work on the pump tank. However, an official determination won’t be made until coroners can conduct an autopsy on the victim’s body.

If for some reason it is determined that the victim was killed by someone else, it is possible that his death could be ruled a homicide.

For more information, read the NJ.com article, “Man, 85, Found Dead in Septic Tank, Report Says.”