In a deeply troubling case, a visiting nurse was discovered dead in the basement of a patient's home in Connecticut, according to local police. The patient, identified as 38-year-old Michael Reese, was subsequently arrested on charges unrelated to the nurse's death.

The nurse, who had been reported missing by her family, had failed to show up for several appointments on Saturday, prompting concern. A family member tracked her phone to the address of her first patient, which was scheduled for 8 a.m. ET that day, leading authorities to investigate the matter further.

Law enforcement officers located the nurse's red Hyundai near a nearby business, and a K-9 unit successfully traced her scent back to the patient's residence. Reese, the occupant of the home, was observed leaving through the back door and was consequently detained by the police.

Subsequent searches of the residence revealed the nurse's lifeless body in the basement, although specific details regarding her identity and the cause of death have yet to be disclosed. During the arrest, Reese was found in possession of a small paring knife, a crack pipe, debit and credit cards belonging to an individual whose name has been redacted, and a Hyundai key fob.

Reese's arrest pertains to charges unrelated to the nurse's death and is based on the violation of his probation, larceny, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The accused is currently being held on a hefty $1 million bond and has a history as a registered sex offender with a propensity for violence.

"This is a deeply troubling case on many levels, and one of the worst cases I have seen in 27 years in law enforcement," expressed Willimantic Police Chief Paul M. Hussey, extending his condolences to the victim's family. The investigation has now been taken over by the Connecticut State Police, who have yet to release further details about the incident.

As of now, no charges have been filed in connection with the nurse's death. Reese was not present during his arraignment on Monday, as reported by New Haven ABC affiliate WTNH.

Reese was previously convicted of sexual assault in the first degree in 2007 and was released in 2020, according to the state's sex offender registry.

The community is left in shock and mourning as they await additional information from authorities, hoping for justice to be served in this tragic and unsettling case.