Unfortunately, violent crimes and traumas happen, and when they do, grieving friends and families are often left to deal with after-effects, like removing the body from the home. The family or property owner is not responsible for removing the body. So, who removes dead bodies from homes?
It Depends on the Cause of Death
The answer depends on the how the person in question died. Typically, if the death was from natural causes, a funeral home of the family’s choice will go to the home and remove the dead body.
If no funeral home has been chosen, a body is discovered outside of a person’s home, or if it is suspected that a body inside a home died due to suspicious causes, a coroner is responsible for the body. The coroner must identify the body, determine the cause and manner of death, remove and transfer the body for storage, and notify any relatives.
However, depending on the cause of death, there may be more to the process. Deceased bodies can contain potentially harmful pathogens, and if the cause of death was messy, anyone visiting or living in the home could potentially be exposed to diseases. This is more likely if there was a murder, suicide, unattended death, or it takes an extended period of time for the body to be discovered.
Once the body is removed, there is the unpleasant business of cleaning up the site where the death occurred. Because of the health risks associated with cleanup, it is best to let trauma cleaning and biohazard removal specialists handle the job. Blood and body fluids that become trapped in floors, walls, and ceilings can put families at risk for potential bloodborne pathogens months and even years later.
Removing Potential Biohazards
Aftermath specializes in crime scene cleanup, biohazard cleanup, death cleanup, and blood spill cleanup. We use a two step process in order to return your home to a safe and livable condition. First, we control the contamination by setting up zones that allow us to prevent cross-contamination and safely dispose of biohazardous waste. Next, we disinfect the area, remove any affected structures that cannot be sanitized, and use a deodorizer to eliminate any lingering odors.
If a body has been removed from your property and you’re now facing the cleanup process, contact Aftermath