A couple moving into an apartment in New York City got a nasty surprise when they found the rotting dead body of a former tenant hidden under a blanket.

The body of 64-year-old Sidney Harris was found Monday night at an apartment in the Bronx, The Associated Press reported.

Sidney Harris

The landlord had offered to rent the apartment to two 18-year-olds as long as they cleaned it out first. He believed Harris had gone to the hospital and wasn't coming back.

As the couple was cleaning out the apartment, they moved a blanket and saw a foot sticking out. They then discovered Harris' body, wrapped up in plastic, with a note that said "Sorry for the smell," police told the New York Daily News.

It was not known how long his body had been there, but neighbors said there was a foul odor coming from the apartment on Monday.

Harris was described by one neighbor as "a sweet guy," but police say he's an ex-con with 11 arrests for charges including statutory rape, robbery and petit larceny, according to the Daily News.

His cause of death was ruled as multiple skull fractures. Police are continuing to investigate, and were trying to identify the killer on Wednesday.