Missing man found decomposed in closet at Florida nursing home, family alleges: Reports
A Florida family is raising the alarm after a loved one's body was allegedly found decomposed inside a closet at a local nursing facility, according to multiple reports.
Last month, on August 23, North Miami police posted an alert about the disappearance of 71-year-old Elin Etienne. He was last seen the day before at North Dade Nursing and Rehab Center wearing blue shorts and a green shirt.
"Mr. Etienne may not be able to find his way home due to his condition," police noted.
He was taken to the center in August after suffering a brain aneurysm, according to NBC News. Etienne's family members gave insight into how they learned about Etienne's disappearance.
They claim someone reached out from a personal number and informed them that he was missing, prompting them to call the nursing facility.
"So we called the nursing home and spoke to a nurse, and they said he checked himself out," his niece Kimberly Etienne told the outlet. "When they said he checked himself out, we pleaded with them for the form to verify his signature. They refused. So we called the police to do a formal missing persons report."
Kimberly also alleged that North Dade Nursing wouldn't allow them to search the property.
USA TODAY reached out to North Miami Police and the nursing home for comment via phone and email but have yet heard back.
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Etienne's body was found in a closet, family alleges
An anonymous source contacted Etienne's family and gave them a grim update about his condition, NBC Miami reported.
"They said they found him in a closet, and he was already decomposing, and they refused to let us see the body," his granddaughter Ruth Keisha Etienne said to the news station.
Ruth continued, "And we tried to speak to the nursing home people, but they refused to speak to us. They don’t want to talk to us. I wonder why?"
According to the reports, police said that a body was recovered at the facility on Monday but did not confirm the deceased person's identity. A death investigation is underway, and the medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
Family seeks justice; facility releases statement
Etienne's family is demanding answers for what happened to their loved one. They held a rally outside North Dade Nursing and Rehab Center on Tuesday.
"We want justice," the family could be seen chanting in footage captured by WPLG.
In a statement to the news station, an ABC affiliate, the nursing facility expressed its condolences to the family and added that it prioritizes the health and safety of its residents.
"Our team is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement and our state regulatory partners," the statement continued. "We are compassionate caregivers, and that will help get us through this difficult experience. At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring our residents continue receiving the high-quality care they have come to expect from our facility.”
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].