NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – Loved ones were experiencing heartbreak and anguish as a body was brought out of a North Miami nursing facility on Monday.
Family members told Local 10 News they believed it was 71-year-old Elin Etienne, who was reported missing from North Dade Nursing and Rehab, located at 1255 NE 135th St., on Aug. 22.
That was later confirmed to the family by authorities, they said. Police have yet to publicly identify the body.
“He was stuffed in a closet the last 12 days,” said Kimberly Etienne, the victim’s niece. “The officer advised he was so decomposed that they couldn’t recognize him.”
Loved ones say Etienne was a cook, a loving father and grandfather. They said he suffered an aneurysm, which is why they took him to North Dade Nursing and Rehab.
6 p.m. report:
On Aug. 22, he was reported missing.
The family says they eventually received a call from a nurse.
“She told me that they lost him, then they transferred me to another nurse who said he signed a form to leave,” said Rivly Breus, the victim’s niece.
“Do you think he would have signed a form to leave?” asked Local 10′s Janine Stanwood.
“No, he couldn’t even feed himself,” Breus replied. “The fact that he was found in a storage closet next to an aquarium... that’s hurtful.”
The doors to the facility were locked when Local 10 News arrived on Monday. A staff member had no comment when asked about the situation.
“He was only here temporarily for rehab, for a short stint and we brought him here alive — full of life, full of spirit and now he’s leaving in a body bag,” said Etienne.
Police said it’s unclear how long the body was inside the facility for and would not say where exactly it was found.
On Tuesday afternoon, the nursing home responded to Local 10′s request for comment.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family members affected by this devastating event. At North Dade Nursing and Rehab, we are deeply committed to the health, well-being and safety of our residents, above all else. 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.”
Stephanie Pena, Administrator, North Dade Nursing and Rehab
“The sympathetic statement was tone-deaf at best,” said Breus in response to the statement. “They haven’t formally apologized to us or acknowledged us.”
On Tuesday, family members rallied outside the facility, demanding answers, and that rally continued into the evening.
While the Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet confirmed the identity, a preliminary police statement noted that the body had a wristband bearing Etienne’s name.
“That leaves a lot to question,” said Breus. “Did he die in the closet or was he put in the closet after he died?”
No further comments have been provided by the facility. Etienne’s loved ones told Local 10′s Sanela Sabovic they need to submit dental records for verification.
State records show the facility has 245 licensed beds. Over the past two years, there have been about six complaints during routine inspections, including a recent complaint about poor record-keeping that was corrected in July, and another regarding maintenance and fire safety issues.
Local 10 viewers can see the list of when inspections were conducted at the North Dade Nursing and Rehab facility by clicking here.