UPDATE @ 12:10 p.m. (11/30):
The body in the Dayton home has been identified as Zachary Fields, age 21.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office did not release the cause of death.
EARLIER REPORT (11/20):
Homicide detectives are now investigating a death after a man on the way to jail told Butler Twp. police officers he knew where to find a body.
>> Going viral: The dangers of online fame
The prisoner told police there was a body in a home in the 700 block of Springfield Street in Dayton, police said.
Butler Twp. officers met with Dayton police around 7:20 a.m. at the house, which had a window open that was big enough to climb through. Police then entered the house and found a body in the basement, investigators said.
Homicide detectives and the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office are working to determine the person’s identity as well as cause and time of death.
Dayton police released a statement that the death is possibly drug-related, and that the death happened some time ago.
It’s not clear how the prisoner knew about the body. It’s also unclear whether any arrests or charges are expected.
According to a Dayton police report, the house where the body was found was nuisance-abated, which is a code enforcement tool to resolve safety issues.
>> Student brings confetti gun onto Dayton Public Schools bus, police say
Dayton police released the following statement:
"In the early morning hours of 11-20-19, Dayton police were alerted to the possibility of a deceased person in the basement of the vacant structure at 726 Springfield St. Uniformed officers responded and did locate human remains in the basement that were in an advanced state of decomposition. Initial examination of the scene indicated the possibility this death is drug related, but will require toxicology and autopsy results to verify."