Whitehall police are investigating the city’s first homicide of the year.

The body of 38-year-old Michael Payne was found early Saturday morning, Oct. 20, outside an apartment building at 4655 Eastway Court, Whitehall police said.

An autopsy Oct. 21 at the Franklin County Coroner’s Office indicated Payne had been strangled, police said, and the death is being considered a homicide.

A person leaving for work shortly after 4 a.m. Oct. 20 reported Payne’s body.

Police found the unclothed body lying at the curb outside the apartment building at Eastway Court, near East Broad Street.

Police have no clear motive, but robbery is a possible motive, police said.

Payne’s clothes were recovered in a nearby trash receptacle, police said.

Payne had resided with his parents on Little Flower Lane in Whitehall, police said.

He last was seen when he left his residence Thursday morning, Oct. 18.

Check ThisWeekNEWS.com for possible updates.