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Couple Moves Into Ex-Con’s Bronx Apartment, Finds His Rotting Dead Body With A Note

By Anne Sewell
Published on: 23:00 PST, Jun 1, 2016

A couple moving into a Bronx apartment discovered the decomposing body of an ex-con along with a note reading: “Sorry for the smell.”

After the couple took over an ex-con’s apartment, as the landlord hadn’t seen him for a while, neighbors said the smell had been unbearable for some time.

According to police sources, a couple moved into the apartment of Bronx ex-con Sidney Harris on Monday, as the landlord hadn’t seen Sidney Harris for quite some time.

Reportedly another tenant, possibly the building manager, had offered to rent the Bronx apartment to the two 18-year-olds, as long as they took out Harris’ belongings. Investigators said the tenant told them he believed Harris, 64, was in the hospital and “wouldn’t be back.”

According to a report by the New York Daily News, it was when the new tenants started moving into the Arthur Avenue apartment at 9:40 p.m. on Monday that they discovered Harris’ decomposing body, as well as a lot of blood. Reportedly the ex-con’s remains had been wrapped in plastic and blankets and were found next to a note, apparently written by the killer, reading, “Sorry for the smell,” police sources said Wednesday.

It was when the couple was busy moving Harris’ belongings out of the first floor Bronx apartment that they spotted a foot sticking out from a bundle of blankets.

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According to police sources, when paramedics arrived on the scene, they found the body wrapped in a shower curtain and blankets, as if his remains were about to be moved somewhere.

According to the city Medical Examiner, Harris, 64, died of multiple skull fractures from multiple strikes to the head, but there was no apparent trauma to his body.

Reportedly it is not immediately known how long Harris’ body had been lying in the Bronx apartment before its discovery, but neighbors told the New York Daily News there had been a foul odor coming out of the apartment for some time. In fact, the smell was so bad, one neighbor had problems sleeping.

According to neighbors, Harris was a “pleasant man” who always took time out to talk to neighbors.

Claudia Espinal, one of the residents in the building, said, “He was a sweet guy,” adding, “He was always outside.”

Espinal believes Harris was sick, as he had reportedly gone to the hospital frequently during the last few months. According to a report in the New York Post, Harris was “very ill” with HIV.

Reportedly the ex-con had a lengthy rap sheet, including convictions for robbery and statutory rape. According to police, he had been arrested 11 times on charges that included drug possession, robbery, petit larceny, and statutory rape.

According to court documents, Harris was sentenced to 15 months in prison back in 2008 after being convicted on grand larceny and welfare fraud charges.

The police said in a statement on Wednesday they are continuing with investigations in an attempt to identify the killer.

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