CA LA County unclaimed dead investigators

[Irishknit]

Saw this article in a news feed about LA Counties investigators of the unclaimed dead. What a fascinating, but frequently heartbreaking job

Los Angeles County has thousands of ‘unclaimed dead.’ These investigators retrace their lives

A 74-year-old woman died alone in the hospital last year. It's the job of investigators in an understaffed Los Angeles County department to find her family.

apnews.com

 

[Laughing]

The office does take care with a service, and the investigator prays for these people!

Their efforts culminate with a communal burial and a multilingual, interfaith ceremony, an event that has been held annually since 1896.

Sounds like job many of us could handle -- especially if the initial investigators delivered the materials to us!

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[phantomstrider]

The office does take care with a service, and the investigator prays for these people!

Their efforts culminate with a communal burial and a multilingual, interfaith ceremony, an event that has been held annually since 1896.

Sounds like job many of us could handle -- especially if the initial investigators delivered the materials to us!

jmho ymmv lrr

The office does take care with a service, and the investigator prays for these people!

Their efforts culminate with a communal burial and a multilingual, interfaith ceremony, an event that has been held annually since 1896.

Sounds like job many of us could handle -- especially if the initial investigators delivered the materials to us!

jmho ymmv lrr

What about the ones that are buried in a mass grave after 3 years. Do they just stop investigating those cases after that.

 

[Irishknit]

What about the ones that are buried in a mass grave after 3 years. Do they just stop investigating those cases after that.

Many of these unclaimed bodies are not the victim of a crime, so no investigations on those people

 

[phantomstrider]

Many of these unclaimed bodies are not the victim of a crime, so no investigations on those people

I know that but even if they aren't a victim of a crime these case are still often investigated to find family or next of kin. Thats the reason there's a section on namus for unclaimed persons.

 

[Laughing]

I know that but even if they aren't a victim of a crime these case are still often investigated to find family or next of kin. Thats the reason there's a section on namus for unclaimed persons.

I expect those cases are 'open' but as time marches on, there is less & less chance of finding a relative.

Although I expect some of us here would accept an 'Internship' or the like & poke around Cyberspace to link these decedents with family.

jmho and all that

 

[sasha17]

I know that but even if they aren't a victim of a crime these case are still often investigated to find family or next of kin. Thats the reason there's a section on namus for unclaimed persons.

I know of a woman who died and her next of kin was alive and nearby, but unable to afford any kind of burial service for her. The county counted her as an unclaimed person, and she remained with the medical examiner's office until it was time for a mass burial.

I imagine some of these unclaimed persons are identified and family has been found, but for whatever reason, the family isn't able or willing to claim them.