Toronto police are appealing to the public for help solving the city's fourth homicide of the year.

Police say Jose Ortiz, 65, was found dead in his west-end apartment Saturday after firefighters and police responded to reports of a suspected gas leak in the area (near Ossington Avenue and Dupont Street).

Det. Sgt. Pauline Gray says a post-mortem exam determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Gray says Ortiz was originally from Ecuador and had lived in the basement apartment for a number of years.

She described him as a ``fairly reclusive man'' who had struggled with addictions and was unemployed.

Police are asking that anyone who had contact with him or knows of his movements Friday or Saturday call investigators.