FRANKLIN COUNTY - The death of a deer hunter Thursday appears to have been from natural causes, Franklin County Coroner Stephen Leek said.

The body of U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joseph Munaretto, 38, was discovered in a woods near Royalton, Sheriff Bill Wilson said.

A family member found Munaretto, who was visiting family while on leave, at about 5:30 p.m.

Wilson said preliminary reports indicate Munaretto had been in a deer stand when for some reason he fell. A safety harness Munaretto was wearing prevented him from falling to the ground; however, Wilson said he does not believe the fall or the harness had anything to do with the death.

"It looks like he may have had a heart attack and fell off the stand, but we won't know for sure until an autopsy is performed later today," Wilson said. "There were no signs of foul play."