‘Very Decomposed’ Body Found in Home for Sale During Walk-Through, Neighbor Says He Noticed a ‘Foul Odor’ for Weeks

Two potential home buyers in Ohio made a grim discovery while touring a house in Dayton.

Police were called to a property on Delphos Ave. just after 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 10, following a report of a “suspicious circumstance,” Dayton Police Lt. Eric Sheldon told PEOPLE.

“Human remains in an enhanced state of decomposition were located inside the home,” Sheldon said.

During a press conference reported by Dayton Daily News, Dayton Police Sgt. Coleman explained that the “badly decomposed body” was first found by two potential home buyers during a self-guided tour of the vacant house. They had entered through the back and immediately sensed something was amiss.

“At this point, it’s difficult to determine whether the deceased was a resident, squatting, or a missing person seeking shelter,” Sgt. Coleman said, noting that investigators are working to identify the body and notify the family.

“It appears that the body has been there for a very long period of time,” he added.

Police are coordinating with the property owner to gather more details, according to Dayton Daily News and WHIO 7.

Lt. Sheldon told PEOPLE that the remains will be sent to the crime lab for identification. “As is standard procedure, the Homicide Unit is leading the investigation,” he said.

Donald Arnold, a neighbor who passes the home regularly, told local outlets that he had noticed a “foul” odor coming from the house in recent days but hadn’t contacted authorities, per WDTN and WHIO 7.

“There was a foul, foul odor within the last maybe two weeks,” Arnold told WHIO 7. “The stench is unbearable. I thought it was probably a deceased animal, so I didn’t investigate further.”

Dayton police are urging anyone with information about the situation to contact them or the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch.