THE family of a St Ann's man found dead in woodland have been told the cause of his death will never be known.
Lloyd McDevitt, 42, was discovered by builders working on woodland off The Crescent, in Mapperley, on October 4.
Mr McDevitt, of Ransom Road, had last been seen on August 21.
An inquest into his death was held at Nottingham Coroner's Court yesterday.
The court heard that the official date for Mr McDevitt's death was October 4, but that he had died well before this date.
Notts coroner Mairin Casey said Mr McDevitt's body had to be identified by his dental records.
She said: "There was no evidence of unnatural trauma and as such the cause of death is unascertainable."
Of where Mr McDevitt was found, Miss Casey added: "It was a sloped area and his identification was found on him. There was a campfire not too far away at the top of the slope and he may have slipped and fallen down the slope, but we will never know."
She added the police looked at the evidence and that there was nothing "untoward" about Mr McDevitt's death.
A statement was also read out during the inquest from Mr McDevitt's sister, Anne McDevitt, of Sherwood.
In it, she said: "He was well known and well liked and he was a nice gentleman.
"He used to be involved in the music business and liked making records and dancing."
Ms Casey recorded an open verdict.
She said: "There are questions about Mr McDevitt's death that cannot be answered and so I have no choice but to record an open verdict."
Mr McDevitt had lived on Mapperley Drive for some time but had recently moved to Ransom Road.
Notts Police carried out an extensive search for Mr McDevitt after his family had become concerned about his welfare as he had not claimed his benefits for a long time.
The operation involved searches of Coppice Park, in Ransom Road, and checks of nearby plots, sheds and allotments.
Police also checked CCTV from the area and conducted house-to-house enquiries as well as leafleting the area and putting up posters asking the oublic for help in tracing Mr McDevitt.
