Police said there is no threat to the public as investigators work with the medical examiner to identify the two people.
DETROIT, MI — Detroit police are investigating the deaths of a man and woman found inside a home Thursday night after officers were called to a northwest Detroit neighborhood.
Officers responded about 9:30 p.m. Thursday to the 15500 block of Stoepel Street and found the two people dead inside the residence, according to the Detroit Police Department. Authorities had not publicly identified either person as of Friday night, and police had not released their ages or said how they died.
The investigation remained active Friday as Detroit police worked with the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the man and woman. Police said there was no threat to the public. Authorities had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect, and no motive had been released.
Residents near the home told CBS News Detroit that they had noticed a strong odor in the area before police arrived. One neighbor, identified by CBS Detroit as Tracy, said the smell had been noticeable for about two weeks and had become difficult to tolerate while she was spending time in her backyard near the property.
Tracy said she filed a complaint with the city more than a week before the bodies were discovered. Other nearby residents also reported noticing the odor. A CBS News Detroit crew at the scene Friday said the smell remained noticeable in the area.
The neighbor said she had continued spending time in her backyard, which she estimated was about 30 feet from the house, despite the odor. She told the station that the smell had at times become so strong that she could “hardly breathe.” Police had not said Friday whether the odor was connected to how long the two people had been inside the home.
Police activity continued at the Stoepel Street property throughout Friday. A CBS Detroit crew reported seeing officers repeatedly enter and leave the home as investigators worked at the scene. Officials had not released information explaining what led officers to the residence Thursday night beyond confirming that they were called there.
Several important questions remained unanswered, including when the man and woman died and what caused their deaths. Police also had not publicly described any evidence found inside the home or said whether investigators were treating the deaths as the result of a specific type of crime.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting with identification of the two people as Detroit police continue the investigation. Authorities said additional information would be released as it becomes available.
Author note: Last updated August 22, 2026.