Family seeks answers after claiming their 71-year-old grandfather was found dead in nursing home closet

North Miami Police issued a social media alert about the elderly man, stating he was a “missing vulnerable adult” and said he was last seen on August 22.

The family of an elderly Miami man is searching for answers after they say he disappeared from a nursing home and his body was reportedly found in a closet at the facility.

Elin Etienne’s family told NBC News and local media WPLG and WSVN that the 71-year-old was admitted to the nursing home on August 14 to recover from a brain aneurysm. A week later, his family told the media that they received a call from a staff member reporting him missing.

When they contacted the nursing home, they were told that Etienne had “discharged himself,” according to NBC News. However, when the family says they asked the nursing home to verify the man's signature, the home reportedly refused and filed a missing person report.

The North Miami Police Department issued a “missing vulnerable adult” alert for Etienne on social media on August 23. Police noted that the elderly man was last seen near the North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center facility around 2 p.m. local time the previous day. He was wearing a green shirt and blue shorts.

Police did not provide an update on social media. The department later confirmed to NBC News that a person was found dead at the center, but did not confirm if it was Etienne. Police confirmed to WSVN that the body was found in a storage closet.

The elderly man's family said they were notified of his death on Monday, September 2. His niece Kimberly Etienne told NBC News: “A detective came … and said he was found in a closet, so decomposed he was unrecognizable.”

“We thought he was missing, but we never expected him to be dead in the nursing home,” Etienne's granddaughter Ruth Keisha Etienne told WSVN.

The family said Elin was supposed to stay at the facility for 12 weeks to undergo rehabilitation and physical therapy, and they are now planning his funeral and looking for answers about the cause of death.

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The North Miami Police Department and North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

In a statement to WPLG and WSVN, the North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center said its “thoughts and condolences” go out to the “family members affected by this devastating event.”

“Our team is cooperating fully with appropriate authorities, including law enforcement and our state oversight partners,” the nursing facility continued. “We are compassionate caregivers, and that will help us get through this difficult time. At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring our residents continue to receive the high-quality care they expect from our facility.”

Elin's family told NBC News that their beloved deceased, who was a former chef, will be remembered as a “loving” and “selfless” person.

“There's nothing he walks by that doesn't lighten the room with a joke, a laugh and humor,” his niece Kimberly told the outlet. “He was just an honest person and that's not how we wanted to say goodbye to him.”

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