FARGO - Investigators are treating the unattended death of a 49-year-old periodontist found dead in his south Fargo home Monday evening as a homicide, Capt. Tod Dahle said.
Police identified the deceased this morning as Philip Mario Gattuso Jr.
Dahle said police generally treat most suspicious deaths as homicides.
"We're going to operate on that assumption until something tells us different, and at this point, nothing's told us different," he said.
A coroner was en route this morning to the scene at 2536 S. University Drive, "and then after that we should have a better handle on are we going to be ready to officially classify this a homicide or not," Dahle said.
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Officers found the body after being called to check on the welfare of the man about 7:45 p.m. at his home in the Upper 9 Condominium Court.
The house had been ransacked, Dahle said. Investigators were still trying to determine whether anything was taken from the home, he said.
No weapons were found, he said.
Police are asking for help in locating Gattuso's missing vehicle, a silver 1999 Porsche with the license plate 2KRYSIS.
Investigators were still working to put together a specific timeline of Gattuso's whereabouts Monday, but they know he had been seen Monday morning, Dahle said.
Kevin Weaver, Gattuso's neighbor who lives a few doors down in the 12-unit complex, described Gattuso as "just a mild-mannered man."
Weaver said a next-door neighbor - who declined to comment when approached by a reporter - discovered the bloody body after Gattuso didn't pick up his toddler-aged daughter from day care Monday evening.
Dahle would not release details about the condition of Gattuso's body. Police Chief Keith Ternes said Monday night the daughter was being cared for and was safe.
