The discovery followed concerns about a man who was not answering calls, according to the owners of the condominium unit.
LAUDERHILL, Fla. — An unusual odor reported at a Lauderhill condominium led authorities to a residence where a man and a dog were found dead and investigators discovered evidence that a fire had occurred inside, police said.
The discovery Thursday night has left investigators trying to establish both a timeline and a cause. Police said officers responded at about 9:33 p.m. to Wood Hue Condominiums at 4291 NW 19th St. after receiving a report about the odor. Fire rescue crews later forced entry into the apartment.
Inside, authorities found the man’s body along with the dead dog, police said. Officers also saw evidence of a previous fire. Authorities had not released the man’s identity by Friday morning or said when the fire occurred.
The owners of the condominium unit gave a local television station additional details about what they said happened before authorities arrived. They said the unit had been rented to a woman who was out of town and that a man had been staying there with her.
According to the owners’ account, the woman became concerned because the man was not answering her telephone calls. The owners said they asked for someone at the condominium complex to check the residence. They said the apartment appeared dark and its blinds were closed when it was checked Thursday night.
Those details came from the property owners and had not been independently confirmed by Lauderhill police. Officials have not publicly established when the man was last known to be alive, when the fire began or how much time passed between the fire and the discovery of the bodies.
The owners also told the station that the fire appeared to have started near a stove. Investigators, however, had not announced an official origin or cause. Police described the incident as involving evidence of a fire and said its cause remained under investigation.
Determining what happened now involves several investigative agencies. Lauderhill police detectives, a city fire inspector and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are examining the scene and the fire, while the Medical Examiner’s Office is responsible for examining the man’s body and determining the cause and manner of death.
No official finding had been released Friday connecting the fire directly to the man’s death. Authorities also had not announced what caused the dog’s death or whether investigators believe the two deaths occurred at the same time.
The investigation remained open Friday as authorities worked to establish the sequence of events inside the apartment. Police had not announced evidence of criminal activity or released a final determination on the fire’s cause.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 6, 2026.