Body found near Mama Mia's identified as 23-year-old West Allis man, investigation ongoing

Updated: 12:35 p.m. on March 12, 2025

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Police say the person found dead outside Mama Mia's restaurant Tuesday is a 23-year-old West Allis resident. 

Officers responded to a welfare check around 10:19 a.m. Tuesday and located the man's body at the bottom of the building's exterior staircase leading to the basement, below street level. 

Investigators determined that West Allis officers had seen the man in the area the evening prior. While on a separate call, on the north side of Greenfield Avenue Monday night, police say the man was seen standing in a parking lot on the south side of the street, staring at officers. Police lost sight of him while attending to another individual but called for additional officers to check on the 23-year-old. 

Police say additional West Allis officers responded to the area and searched for the man but did not locate him. 

Based on this information, investigators believe the man ran directly west in the parking lot and fell down the exterior stairwell. 

They say there does not appear to be any evidence of foul play. 

Final determinations will be made after an autopsy.

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the West Allis Police Department 414-302-8000.

Posted: 1:15 p.m. on March 11, 2025

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County officials are investigating after a body was found near Mama Mia's restaurant in West Allis.

Authorities were called to the scene near 86th and Greenfield around 10:30 a.m.

According to the West Allis Police Department, an initial investigation indicates the death appears to be accidental. 

Owner Justin Fernandez says one of his employees came into work Tuesday morning and found a man unconscious on the stairs outside of the restaurant, partially naked.

He says the worker immediately called 911. When West Allis police responded to the call, they discovered the man was dead. 

Fernandez says the person was not an employee or anyone they knew, but it was a scary sight right outside his business. 

"It was definitely a shock," Fernandez said. "I don't really know exactly why it happened, but it definitely was a concern."

Fernandez says they had to temporarily close the restaurant while police investigated, but they are back open now.