Robert Spencer Sisson was a 68-year-old man whose case remained unclaimed following his death on September 5, 2018. He passed away of natural causes at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. Despite efforts to locate family members, only his son was identified, who ultimately chose not to claim his father's remains. The lack of family willing or able to take responsibility left the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office with the task of managing his posthumous affairs.
Following his death, Robert Spencer Sisson's body was transferred to a rotation funeral home where he was cremated. The decision to cremate was made after it became clear that no family members were available to provide direction or preferences regarding funeral arrangements. Once the cremation process was completed, the cremains were returned to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office (PCMEO) for safekeeping, indicating the end of formal procedures for handling unclaimed remains.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Washington, took responsibility for the case under Agency Case Number 18-1839. The office, which can be contacted at 253-798-6494, managed the situation with limited resources due to the decedent’s status as unclaimed. This case highlights the often-challenging circumstances surrounding unclaimed individuals, where familial connections are scarce or nonexistent, leaving public agencies to respectfully handle the deceased’s final matters.
Date Found: 09/05/2018
