A man found in an unexplained death in Everton has been named.
Paul Joseph Smith from Croxteth was discovered at a property on Thirlmere Road on Tuesday morning by police, who have now arrested two people over the case.
A 60-year-old man from the local area and a second man, aged 43 and from Liverpool, are both in custody after being detained on suspicion of murder.
Mr Smith’s family have paid tribute to the father-of-five, who was also known as ‘Smigger’, as a man with ‘a huge heart’ and ‘the glue’ that bonded them together.
“Paul was an amazing father to five children who adored him,” they said.
“A loving, supportive partner and a devoted son, always striving to provide for his family.
“Paul had a huge heart, he was the life and soul of the party, charming and warm to everyone he met. He will be mourned and missed by many, friends and family alike.
“He was a loving brother who devoted his time and love to supporting his elder and younger siblings. He was always the life of the party and kept everyone smiling.
“He was the glue that bonded his siblings together with his contagious smile and crazy personality. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered for being the outgoing loving sibling and son he was.
“He wasn’t just a loving man, he was an amazing dad. He was the kind of person you felt the moment he walked into a room, full of energy, full of love, always laughing and joking.
“It’s hard to believe he’s gone and we will miss him so much.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ball said: “Our condolences go out to the family of Paul, and we will support them as they come to terms with what has happened.
“We are determined to find out exactly what happened, and I would urge anyone with information to come forward at the earliest opportunity so prompt action can be taken.
“If you live locally and saw or heard anything suspicious, or have since heard talk of what happened, speak to us. What seems like a trivial detail could be absolutely vital.”
Anyoen with information can contact Merseyside Police via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via their website or call 101 quoting incident reference 25000602849.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously