Missing Man's Body Found In Elevator
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver's coroner confirmed on Thursday that a man's body found in an elevator is that of an elderly man reported missing a month ago.
Investigators are now trying to find out exactly when Isaak Komisarchik died, and how.
Komisarchik, 82, went missing on July 5. His body was found on Monday inside an the Woodstream Village Apartment complex on East Harvard Avenue near Harvard Gulch Park.
Search teams were originally not sure where Komisarchik had gone.
The day after Komisarchik went missing, Denver Fire dive teams searched nearby ponds. Neighbors recalled missing person posters appearing shortly after.
"I had noticed (posters) over in my apartment complex, over by the mailboxes," said Jacob Ramirez, a nearby resident.
However, as teams searched elsewhere for Komisarchik, authorities say his body was decomposing in an inoperable elevator.
Residents at Woodstream Village recalled a distinct smell growing in the area.
"This specific issue, with this specific scent, coming from this specific stairwell and elevator area has been mentioned on several occasions," said Moe Ashor, a resident.
"It was just a distinct smell, people know it right away," Ramirez said.
"Oh my God, now that we know what it was, it does smell like what it was," Ashor said. "(It smelled) like a carcass decomposing."
Several residents told CBS4's Dillon Thomas the elevator Komisarchik was located in was part of a structure that connects the complex's parking garage with the units.
"It's a very small, weird elevator, that is always making a weird buzzing sound," Ashor said.
When CBS4 visited the complex, the garage was undergoing maintenance. Some said the work on the garage limited the amount of foot traffic through the area where the body was located.
Denver police could not elaborate on how Komisarchik ended up in the elevator.
Residents said it is difficult to get into the building, as residential keys are needed.
Homicide detectives were also investigating the cause of death in the situation.
"It is kind of tragic, in a way, to think someone was just lying there," Ramirez said. "No peace, or anything."
CBS4 reached out to the Woodstream Village Apartments for comment. They said their corporate office was working on a statement that would be provided at a later time.
Dillon Thomas is a reporter at CBS4 and a Colorado native. He believes everyone has a story, and would love to share yours! You can find more of his stories by following him on Twitter, @DillonMThomas.
