Family seeks answers after man’s body found in nursing home

A family in Florida is seeking answers after a man was found deceased in a storage closet over a week after being reported missing from a North Miami nursing home.

The body of 71-year-old Elin Etienne was discovered at the North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Monday morning, according to Maj. Kessler Brooks of the North Miami Police Department.

Etienne had been reported missing on August 22, with a missing person’s notice issued the following day, police confirmed.

Etienne’s family claims he had dementia, a condition the nursing facility disputes, as stated by the police.

“They said that he signed himself out, he doesn’t have the capacity to sign himself out,” Kimberly Etienne, a family member, told local affiliate WSVN.

Stephanie Pena, the administrator of the facility, expressed their dedication to resident safety and well-being, stating their full cooperation with law enforcement and state regulatory bodies. Pena emphasised their role as compassionate caregivers and their commitment to continuing high-quality care.

The medical examiner has taken Etienne’s body for an autopsy, with results pending. The investigation remains active, Brooks added.

Family members have gathered outside the nursing home this week. “The entire family is here, and there’s been no answers,” Kimberly Etienne stated to WSVN.

North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center holds a two-star overall rating on Medicare.gov, with one star for health inspections and two for staffing. The facility has incurred over $23,000 in federal penalties in the past three years for various infractions, including serious health or fire safety citations or prolonged failure to address violations.