What happens when someone dies and no one claims the body?

In Pierce County, the medical examiner arranges a cremation of the decedents and provides a ceremony at a final resting place. That will happen Aug. 31 for 170 people who died in Pierce County prior to Aug. 31, 2020, and haven’t been claimed by relatives or friends. The list of decedents, including date and location of death, is online at https://www.piercecountywa.gov/remembrance.

In some instances, relatives of the deceased individual haven’t been found. In other cases, family members declined to take possession of the body, according to the medical examiner. They can be claimed before Aug. 25 by contacting a medical examiner investigator at PCMDXInvestigations@piercecountywa.gov or 253-798-6655.

The public memorial will be conducted at 11 a.m. at Haven of Rest Funeral Home in Gig Harbor.