Warm temps lead to dead body being discovered in Detroit house

DETROIT (WJBK) - Tuesday's warm weather alerted some residents that something wasn't right in their neighborhood.

A strong odor on Dearing Street was overpowering, and it led neighbors straight to a decomposing body on the Detroit-Hamtramck border.

"Today with the heat and all, (you were) overwhelmed when you walked by the door," said Diana Kyewski. "We knew something was wrong."

Diana Kyewski and her family felt they had no choice but to call police to check it out.

"My mom called first and we told her what was going on, I don't know," she said. "They said they would send somebody out. That was 12:30 or something."

Family members who live next door claim they called 911 multiple times but police never showed.

They were worried about their children - or those who attend an afterschool program a few doors down. Diana and her daughter decided to check it out and made a gruesome discovery.

"We kicked the door in and there were maggots everywhere," Brittany Kyewski said. "She looked like a female, she had a scarf on her head and laying in her stomach."

"It is just a horrible sight, never seen anything like that in my life," Diana said.

Brittany Kyewski made the final call to police, telling them they found a body in the upstairs bedroom of this abandoned house. Minutes later, officers arrived and launched a homicide investigation.

"I don't know if it was an overdose or a murder, but it is sad just to think that the police don't come," Brittany said.

FOX 2 asked police about the delay. A spokesperson said dispatch didn't receive the first 911 call until 2:15 p.m. and the person claimed it smelled like something died. The call was coded as an unknown problem. They said another call ended in a hang up.

Police wouldn't show up to the scene until the final call at 4:36 p.m. when Brittany reported their shocking find. This time the call was logged as a homicide - considered a high priority.

FOX 2 was there when police arrived and for the Kyewskis - not a moment too soon.

"They are finally going to find out what happened," Diana said, "(And) hopefully eventually find out who this person is."

Police suspect the person inside was a squatter. It is not clear how long the body was there.