On October 27, 2015, the body of Melinda M. Odoake, an unclaimed female decedent, was discovered in Tacoma, Washington. According to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, Melinda passed away due to natural causes at Tacoma General Hospital. Following her death, the authorities made efforts to contact her family to notify them of her passing. Unfortunately, despite being informed, Melinda's family chose not to claim her remains.
In accordance with the procedures for unclaimed persons, Melinda's body was entrusted to a rotation funeral home. Subsequent to the standard protocol, her body was cremated, and her cremains were returned to the office of the Pierce County Medical Examiner. For over a year, her cremated remains remained unclaimed and in the care of the Medical Examiner's Office, as attempts to locate a next of kin willing to assume responsibility proved unsuccessful.
Ultimately, the policies in place for such cases necessitated a dignified resolution for Melinda Odoake's cremains. On August 30, 2017, the staff from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office held a ceremony at sea, during which Melinda's cremains were respectfully scattered. The effort was led by the agency, whose contact number is 253-798-6494, and whose address is 3619 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington, under case number 15-1748. This solemn ceremony was the final act of care for Melinda by those who sought to honor her life in the absence of familial involvement.
Date Found: 10/27/2015
