Portsmouth police were called to a 6th Street home after a man said his friend had not answered the door in several days, even though the friend’s vehicle was still there.
The caller told police he did not know the man’s full name.
What raised the alarm was what he saw and smelled outside the home.
According to the police log, the caller reported flies around the door and a strong odor coming from inside.
Officers responded and found the door unsecured.
Police said they had reason to enter the home.
The call then became a death investigation.
Animal Control was contacted several times during the response, and the coroner’s office also became involved.
Police remained at the scene for several hours while the necessary notifications and arrangements were made.
The identity of the deceased person was not included in the information provided.
No details about the cause of death were listed.
The call began as a welfare check from a concerned friend.
The vehicle was still there.
Nobody had answered for days.
Then came the flies and the smell.
Sadly, the concern turned out to be justified.