Body found in closet of North Miami nursing home. Family fears he’s a missing loved one
Police confirmed the horrifying discovery of a decomposing body found inside the closet of a North Miami nursing home Monday morning.
Around 10:30 a.m., North Miami police responded to the grisly find at the North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, located at 1255 NE 135th Street, said Maj. Kessler Brooks, a department spokesman.
As of Monday evening, Brooks noted police were still investigating the death and they had cordoned off the area of the facility where he was located. A man who answered the phone at the nursing home declined to comment.
Police are investigating whether the decomposed remains that they found is 71-year-old Elin Etienne, who was reported missing from the facility on Aug. 22., Brooks said.
His granddaughter, Ruth Keisha Etienne, told the Miami Herald the unidentified person is her grandfather.
“Yes correct,” Ruth said. “He was found in a closet.”
Elin Etienne was admitted to the home earlier this month after he suffered an aneurysm, Ruth Etienne added.
Brooks said police are awaiting confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s office before concluding the deceased man is Elin Etienne.
“We have not yet made that link,” Brooks told the Herald.
North Miami police released a poster of Elin Etienne on Aug. 23 asking the public’s help in finding him.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published September 2, 2024 at 6:24 PM.
