Authorities are investigating after the body of a missing Florida man named Elin Etienne was reportedly found decomposing in a nursing home closet.
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Here’s Why It Was Believed The Florida Man Went Missing
According to NBC 6 South Florida, Etienne was last seen on August 22. On the same day, his family reported him missing to the police, and authorities issued a public notice.
“NMPD is asking for the public’s assistance in finding Elin Etienne. Mr. Etienne is a 71 year old male who was last seen in the area of NE 135 ST/ NE 12 AVE, at approximately 2:00 pm, Thursday (08/22/2024),” the police department’s noticed shared via Facebook read. “He was last seen wearing a green shirt and blue shorts. Mr. Etienne may not be able to find his way home due to his condition…”
The outlet reports that Etienne’s family had informed authorities that the 71-year-old was receiving care at the North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which was located on Northeast 135th Street. Furthermore, the family alleged that the rehab was not very helpful in assisting them with locating Etienne.
“We just got the call saying he went missing, and we are like, ‘OK?’ We went there and talked to them, just trying to get to the bottom of it,” Etienne’s granddaughter, Ruth Keisha Etienne, reportedly told NBC 6 South Florida. “They told us he signed an AMA, which means he refused medical help, and we were asking for the documents and to see his signature, and they refused to let us see that.”
According to the outlet, Etienne had recently experienced a brain aneurysm.
Here’s How Elin Etienne Was Reportedly Found In The Nursing Home Closet
Then, on Monday, September 2, Etienne’s body was reportedly found in a closet at the facility.
“They said they found him in a closet, and he was already decomposing, and they refused to let us see the body,” Ruth alleged. “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 NBC News, Etienne’s niece, Kimberly, said she was told his body was “decomposed to the point of no recognition,”
Meanwhile, CNN reports that Stephanie Pena, an administrator for the facility, has released a statement about the matter.
“At North Dade Nursing and Rehab, we are deeply committed to the health, well-being, and safety of our residents, above all else,” Pena asserted. “Our team is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement and our state regulatory partners. 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.”
According to the outlet, the investigation into Etienne’s disappearance and death remains ongoing. Additionally, an autopsy is currently being conducted.
Furthermore, Kimberly told NBC News that the experience for her family has been “like a movie, a terrible horror film. Now we have to seek justice because we can’t even give him a proper burial.”
“We thought that he went missing, we never expected him to be dead in the nursing home,” Ruth added, per PEOPLE.
A 7-Year-Old’s Mummified Body Was Found In A Closet In 2023
As The Shade Room previously reported, in June 2023, a Georgia mother was arrested and charged after her 7-year-old daughter’s body was found in a closet in an abandoned apartment.
At the time, it was reported that a neighbor noticed a “foul odor” coming from the unit. When he opened the closet in the apartment, he reportedly noticed a “human arm” and compared the girl’s appearance to that of a mummy.
Ultimately, the mother of the girl was arrested and charged with murder and child cruelty.
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