The scene at 231 W. 5th Street remained guarded by Erie Police Sunday, a sign the investigation is still a work in progress.

Tenants, Antonio McLaurin , and Elizabeth Taylor are behind bars after being charged with  neglect of a care dependent person, and abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence.

In the criminal complaint given to Erie News Now, it was Millcreek Police who first approached the couple, as they were searching for a missing person. 

The report was based off a prior independent investigation by an Older Adult Protective Services employee. The first inquiry into the missing person went as far back as May 29.

Initially, the couple told police the person may be staying at a Millcreek motel.

But more information led Millcreek and Erie Police to continue to ask the couple and their landlord to search the 5th street property on Saturday.

Investigators focused on a spot in the backyard where the couple had asked to put in a garden. 

 That's when authorities spotted black plastic and recognized a strong stench.

And after doing some digging, they found the body Saturday afternoon.

In statements to police, McLaurin and Taylor said McLaurin scalded the person in their care during a bath. Taylor says they should have called an ambulance but did not.

And the duo speculates the person died from a combination of injuries from the incident, and bed sores, as far back as June 18th, roughly a month after the scalding.

They then wrapped the person's body in plastic and buried them in a shallow grave in the backyard.

McLaurin also allegedly took money out of the person’s bank account both before and after the person’s death.

Despite the charges, both Erie Police Chief, Dan Spizarny, and Millcreek Police Lieutenant, Rick Skonieczka, say they cannot be certain the body found in the city is connected to the missing person’s report in Millcreek.

We’re told the body is still wrapped in plastic, and authorities are holding off until a positive identification can be made.

“At this point it's really hard to say" Skonieczka said “I think until they know the identity of the person that they found, they really can't determine that at this point."

“There's more follow up to be done, the investigation's nowhere near complete." Spizarny said

Investigators from both departments worked at the scene for over 12 hours Saturday. The dig was done with members from the Mercyhurst University Forensics Team.

The  Erie County Coroner will conduct an autopsy on Monday morning.