76-year-old found dead in north Lincoln home; man accused of hiding body

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Police Department is investigating a suspicious death at a home in the North Bottoms neighborhood.

Around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, officers were sent on a welfare check to a home near 12th and New Hampshire streets.

Assistant Police Chief Jason Stille said no one answered the door, and officers smelled gas.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue crews shut off the home’s gas and entered the home once the air quality improved.  The gas came from a stove’s pilot lights.

Stille said crews found 45-year-old Alaric Harden – who was conscious – and took him to a hospital.

When LFR crews went back inside the home, they found a 76-year-old man, who was dead.

“Certainly, I don’t think it was a recent death,” Stille said. “It could be a couple of days, it could be a week. I just don’t know.”  

He said an autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday morning.

“I’m hopeful that autopsy will provide more clarity on manner, cause and a timeline for the death,” Stille said.

After being released from the hospital, Harden was arrested on suspicion of removing or concealing human remains.

An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call police at 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.