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SALT LAKE CITY -- Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was discovered in his apartment by his landlord Saturday night.
We don't know how contaminated it is, what dangers it poses to maybe the rest of the building. But as far as surrounding residents, there is no danger.
–Lt. Isaac Atencio
Investigators are trying to determine if containers full of fungus contributed to the man's death. The landlord, Galen Ure, found the body in the apartment near 1200 East and 100 South. Ure says he was checking on the 55-year-old tenant because no one had seen him for a few days.
Ure immediately called for help. "Told them there wasn't a hurry," he said. "He'd been down for awhile."
When officers arrived, they found a fungal growth in jars throughout the apartment.
"At that point it was determined that we needed to evacuate the apartment and the building just to make sure that we could investigate what we were looking at," Salt Lake police Lt. Isaac Atencio said.
Residents from the seven other units were relocated with the help of the Red Cross.
DEA agents, specialists from the Utah National Guard and Salt Lake County Health Department workers were among those called in to help with the investigation. Anyone who went inside was equipped with boots, face masks and full body suits.
"We don't know how contaminated it is, what dangers it poses to maybe the rest of the building," said Atencio. "But as far as surrounding residents, there is no danger."
Salt Lake City fire and hazmat crews helped remove the body from the apartment Sunday because of the potentially dangerous materials. Detectives say they haven't discovered any signs of foul play in the man's death.
Several neighbors say the building appeared to be suspicious -- possibly even a drug house. Even so, the people we spoke to are not worried about this isolated incident.
"I'm not too concerned," said Frank Feldman. "It's a good neighborhood. I mean nothing ever really happens."
Police will wait for the autopsy and toxicology reports to determine cause of death. They are also still trying to identify the man. There was no ID in the apartment.
Atencio says it could be days before investigators know what the substance is.
Story compiled with contributions from Nicole Gonzales and Andrew Adams.
