No foul play is suspected in connection to the death of a 71-year-old Florida grandfather who was found dead in a closet at a nursing home, according to an autopsy.
Elin Etienne, who had dementia, was reported missing on Aug. 22, after receiving care at North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, according to NBC affiliate WTVJ, ABC affiliate WPLG and CBS affiliate WFOR-TV. His body was found in a closet at the facility on Sept. 2.
The medical examiner’s report said police found no signs of trauma or foul play, per the reports. Etienne’s official cause of death is listed as “undetermined.”
“This is a nightmare,” Philip Gold, the attorney for Etienne’s family, told WFOR. “It’s hoped that for the family the truth can be revealed and the nursing home will be held accountable and this will never happen again.”
Neither Gold nor the nursing home immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The family of Elin Etienne previously told NBC News, Fox affiliate WSVN and WPLG that the 71-year-old was admitted to the nursing center on Aug. 14 as he recovered from a brain aneurysm. They allegedly received a phone call from a staff member one week later telling them that Etienne was missing.
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According to NBC News, family members were told Etienne had “checked himself out” of the facility. They reportedly filed a missing persons report after the nursing home refused to verify the signature allegedly used to sign him out.
Etienne’s remains were found decomposed and had maggots, WTVJ reported. No injuries were observed on the body, which was 11 days old when it was found.
“This should never happen,” Gold said. “The family hopes this never happens again to anybody or at any nursing home.”
North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center said in a previous statement that they were cooperating with police and offered condolences to those impacted by the death, according to WTVJ.
“We are deeply committed to the health, well-being and safety of our residents,” the nursing home said in the statement, per WFOR-TV.
Speaking with WFOR-TV, the attorney said Etienne’s family still has “a lot of questions without answers” about their loved one’s death. He also suggested the family is currently considering legal action.
“We are in touch with the nursing home attorneys and going through a legal pre-suit process which is a requirement before bringing a wrongful death lawsuit for the family,” Gold explained.
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