Police call Taylor woman's death 'suspicious'

32-year-old Stephanie Buchanan found dead in her apartment

TAYLOR, Mich. – Taylor police are investigating a suspicious death after a woman's body was found Wednesday night in her apartment.

Police confirm the victim is 32-year-old Stephanie Buchanan. Her body was found at the Royal Park Apartments at Polk and Ecorse roads. Chief of Police Mary Sclabassi said a family member found Buchanan's body after the building manager hadn't heard from her for several days.

"When I got home last night the entire street was blocked off," said neighbor Keith Ryan. "I asked police if they were looking for someone, at first they said yes then said no but said there was reason to be concerned."

Neighbors are concerned. They say this typically quiet neighborhood was rattled Wednesday night as dozens of police officers were outside of the complex just before 10 p.m.

"It kind of makes you uneasy, especially being right outside of your front door, really," said Don Seymour.

At this point Taylor police are not ruling out homicide. There was speculation that the body may have been there for several days and that the victim possibly was strangled.

The chief said there were no obvious signs of trauma but this death is being called suspicious.

Taylor police released a statement on Thursday which reads in part:

"At this time, the Medical Examiner is ruling Buchanan's death 'indeterminate,' meaning that a homicide cannot be ruled out at this time nor can accidental or natural causes. Toxicology results will be pending and could take several weeks. Sclabassi said that contrary to reports last night, the Medical Examiner stated that there were no signs of strangulation."

Ryan said it appears someone seemed to know their way around the victim's apartment.

"I heard a few things were taken and that there was a boyfriend living there for a few months who had a key to the place," said Ryan.

Sources tell Local 4 a TV was missing from the apartment and police haven't been able to track down the boyfriend.

An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.