Investigators are saying very little about the death of a male who was found Thursday afternoon in a secluded area off Hwy. 36 near a winter recreation area in Lake Elmo.

"We have some leads, but we have very limited information," said Cmdr. Daniel Starry of the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The homicide is being investigated with help from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Investigators ask anyone who may have seen anything in the area of the 8800 block of 55th St. N. in Lake Elmo between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Deputies were called there and found a male with unspecified, but life-threatening injuries. The victim was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he died.

The road is in a secluded area off De Montreville Trail N. in Lake Elmo, just south of Hwy. 36. There are scattered homes and farms nearby, and the victim was found along the road near, but not in the Green Acres Recreation Area, a local ski tubing and cross-country ski area that is closed for the season.

The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of family, Starry said. More details on the cause of death and other information will be available after an autopsy by the Ramsey County medical examiner's office.

Anybody with information is asked to call the Washington County Sheriff's Office Tip-line at 651-430-7800.

JIM ANDERSON