On October 10, 2018, the body of a 69-year-old male, Harry Paul Pierce, was found at the Washington State Soldiers Home in Orting, Washington. He passed away due to natural causes. Following his death, the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office (PCMEO) took charge of handling the situation, given that Harry was an unclaimed person with no immediate next of kin willing or able to take responsibility for funeral arrangements.
Despite efforts to reconnect Harry with his family, the task proved challenging. The decedent reportedly had an estranged wife and two sons. When contacted, his wife stated she lacked the financial means to oversee his funeral arrangements. Unfortunately, she also did not possess contact information for their sons. Following this lead, the PCMEO conducted an extensive search to locate Harry's sons, but their attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.
Without any family to claim Harry's body, he was sent to a rotation funeral home, where he was cremated. His cremated remains were subsequently returned to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. This case, documented under Namus ID: UCP53657 and Agency Case Number: 18-2038, underscores the challenges and complexities that arise in handling cases of unclaimed individuals. The PCMEO, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Washington, can be contacted at 253-798-6494 for further information regarding this case.
Date Found: 10/10/2018
