Executive Summary
- Police discovered a woman’s body at the Alden Apartments in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday morning.
- A 911 caller reported the body was battered and covered with cardboard boxes, though police initially noted no visible injuries.
- Investigators have established a crime scene near a dumpster in the 1500 block of Southwest Second Street.
- The incident is currently being handled as a homicide investigation pending autopsy results.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Law enforcement authorities have initiated a homicide investigation following the discovery of a deceased woman at a Fort Lauderdale apartment complex on Wednesday morning. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department confirmed a significant police presence at the scene as detectives worked to secure the area and gather forensic evidence.
Officers were dispatched to the Alden Apartments located in the 1500 block of Southwest Second Street, adjacent to North Fork Elementary School. According to police reports, between 20 and 30 patrol vehicles responded to the scene, where a perimeter was established with yellow crime scene tape blocking off several buildings. Investigators erected a blue tent near a dumpster on the property to shield the scene while a crime scene unit utilized forensic kits to process the area.
There are conflicting preliminary reports regarding the condition of the body. A witness who called 911 informed reporters that the woman appeared to be battered and had been concealed under cardboard boxes near the trash disposal area. However, a detective at the scene stated to the press that the body did not show immediate visible injuries. Police officials emphasized that the circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear and are currently under active investigation.
Investigative Outlook
The immediate priority for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department involves determining the official cause and manner of death through an autopsy by the Medical Examiner’s Office. This forensic analysis will be critical in reconciling the discrepancy between the witness account of trauma and the preliminary police observation of no visible injuries. The classification of the case as a homicide indicates that investigators are treating the scene with the highest level of scrutiny until foul play can be definitively ruled out or confirmed.
