Steven Rausch, Port Macquarie: Hill St death investigation

A man was found with critical injuries after paramedics were called to a fire at a Mid North Coast unit. A month on, police are now treating his death as suspicious.

Police are widening their investigation into the death of a man who was found in a garden bed in Port Macquarie last month.

Investigations into how Steven Rausch, 54, died on the night of May 4, have so far yielded little result.

His death is now being treated as suspicious, after a post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.

He was located by paramedics with critical injuries in a garden bed below the balcony of a Hill St unit with a fire extinguisher beside his body.

He was declared dead at the scene.

Steven Rausch died from critical head injuries in Port Macquarie last month. Picture: NSW Police

Steven Rausch died in suspicious circumstances, police say. Picture: NSW Police

Mid North Coast Police District Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Pete O’Reilly, said police were now seeking the public’s assistance to help with their investigations.

“Obviously we were aware on the night there was a fire, and a chair was on fire … It’s been reported to us that there were some raised voices, so we are certainly looking at all of that,” he said.

“The appeal to the public requests information about whether there are other associates that perhaps we’re not aware of, or people that he was dealing with or movements that we weren’t aware of, hence the reason we are putting it out to the public to see if anyone can assist.

He said the family are traumatised, but have been cooperative with police investigations.

“Investigators have spoken to a number of residents from the unit block, however, are hoping to speak with further residents or visitors who were in the vicinity of Hill Street.

“Anyone who may have CCTV footage or who were driving in the nearby area between 7.30pm and 8.30pm and have dashcam footage is urged to contact police.”

Mr O’Reilly said police had received reports of raised voices and shouting coming the unit complex, prior to the body being found.

Efforts to revive the man were made, however he was declared dead at the scene.

Detectives are urging anyone with information into his death to come forward.