The case of Robin L. Sheaffer involves the discovery of a 70-year-old female decedent found at her residence in Tacoma, Washington, on April 23, 2019. Despite her identification, the situation was complicated by the fact that no arrangements had been made for her final disposition. Robin L. Sheaffer had a daughter, yet she did not select a funeral home or provide guidance on her mother's posthumous care. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, which was handling the case, made several attempts to contact the daughter to discuss the disposition of her mother's remains. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful, leaving the authorities with no choice but to proceed as best they could under the circumstances.
In the absence of any direction from the family, the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office transferred Robin L. Sheaffer's body to a rotation funeral home. Here, she was cremated, a decision likely made due to necessity, given the lack of familial instruction and the need to manage cases with limited space and resources. This method of disposition was selected with the hope of both respecting the decedent’s dignity and complying with procedural requirements.
Upon completion of the cremation process, the cremains were returned to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Held at their facility located on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, these remain in custody as a reminder of the unclaimed. The Office continues to serve as the point of contact for any further inquiries, ready to communicate with any family members who might come forward. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, agencies like the Pierce County Medical Examiner play a critical role in ensuring that individuals like Robin L. Sheaffer receive respectful treatment, even when they remain unclaimed.
Date Found: 04/23/2019
