Lawrence Haskell Winters, a 74-year-old man, was found deceased on June 4, 2018, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. Determined to have passed away from natural causes, Winters’ case was documented under Namus ID: UCP53172. Despite initial reports indicating that Winters was married, the notification of his passing to his spouse was met with reluctance due to financial considerations. Attempts by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office to establish further contact with his wife were unsuccessful, leaving Winters without a next of kin to claim his remains.
Following standard procedures, Winters' remains were moved to a rotation funeral home where he was cremated. The cremains were then returned to the custody of the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Faced with the absence of immediate family or known relatives, the office endeavored to handle the remains with dignity and respect.
Further investigation into Winters’ background revealed that he was a veteran, qualifying him for burial at the Tahoma National Cemetery. Plans were set in motion for his cremains to be laid to rest there, pending the completion of requisite paperwork. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Washington, managed his case under agency case number 18-1212, and their office can be reached at 253-798-6494 for inquiries. Through these efforts, Winters' remains were ensured a respectful resting place befitting a veteran, despite the lack of familial involvement in his final arrangements.
Date Found: 06/04/2018
