Man found dead in lot behind South Florida church after workers notice foul odor

Miami-Dade sheriff's homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found dead in northwest Miami-Dade on Friday morning, authorities said.

The man's body was discovered in a lot behind Peaceful Zion Missionary Baptist Church after a landscaping crew working nearby noticed a strong odor coming from the area.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the area of Northwest 24th Avenue and Northwest 68th Street shortly before 9 a.m. following a report of a sick or injured person.

When deputies arrived, they found an adult man dead at the scene.

The crew told CBS News Miami they smelled what appeared to be a decomposing body before calling authorities. One of the workers said he was not near the body when he first noticed the odor.

"I wasn't even near the body," the worker said.

When asked whether he could smell it from a distance, the worker confirmed that he could.

One of the workers eventually got close enough to see the man's hands sticking out of a bush.

Homicide detectives were called to investigate the death, which authorities have classified as an unclassified death investigation.

Crime scene investigators were seen examining the lot behind the church Friday afternoon as deputies secured the area with crime scene tape.

Authorities have not determined whether the man's death was the result of a homicide or another cause. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office will determine the man's cause and manner of death.

Authorities have not released the man's identity or provided additional details about the circumstances surrounding his death.

The investigation remains ongoing.