Vallejo police are investigating a handyman's death as a homicide, a police sergeant said Monday.

The 62-year-old victim was killed sometime between Sunday night and this morning while renovating a house in the 1000 block of Sacramento Street, Sgt. Jeff Bassett said.

The Solano County coroner's office identified him as Michael Branson. The Vallejo Times-Herald said the man lived in El Sobrante.

When Branson did not return home Sunday night, his girlfriend assumed he slept at the house under renovation, Bassett said.

Branson's work truck, without its tires, was discovered by an apartment manager nearby in the 400 block of Maine Street around 9:30 a.m. Monday, Bassett said.

When an apartment manager called the phone number on the truck that was blocking his property's driveway, Branson's girlfriend answered the phone, Bassett said.

The woman then went to the house under renovation and found Branson dead outside the Sacramento Street residence, Bassett said.

Police suspect the truck was stolen and are investigating the death as a homicide, Bassett said.

Coroner's officials said that an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of Branson's death.