On May 10, 2017, the body of Donald V. Crosta, an 86-year-old male, was discovered in Spanaway, Washington. Crosta passed away from natural causes at St. Joseph Medical Center. Despite their efforts, the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office was unable to locate any known family members for the deceased. A comprehensive search was conducted in the hopes of finding relatives, but unfortunately, no family connections were identified.
Due to the absence of any known family, the decedent's remains were sent to a rotation funeral home where cremation was performed. After the cremation process was completed, the cremains were returned to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Washington.
Further investigation revealed that Donald V. Crosta was a veteran, which made him eligible for burial at the Tahoma National Cemetery. Subsequently, on September 7, 2017, Crosta's cremains were entrusted to the Missing in America Project. This organization took responsibility for ensuring that the decedent received a respectful and honorable interment at the national cemetery, providing closure to a life that seemed devoid of family connections. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, with case number 17-1009, played a significant role in managing the process, despite the challenges presented by the decedent's unclaimed status.
Date Found: 05/10/2017
