In the case of an unclaimed person, the body of Daniel L. Lizotte, a 69-year-old male, was discovered on January 5, 2019, in Tacoma, Washington. The decedent was identified through records as having passed away due to natural causes at Manor Care of Tacoma. Despite efforts to make contact, his only known next of kin, a brother, could not be located. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office (PCMEO) undertook an exhaustive search to identify any surviving relatives or acquaintances who might claim responsibility for the deceased but to no avail.
Following procedural guidelines, the decedent was sent to a designated rotation funeral home for cremation. Once the cremation process was completed, the cremains were returned to PCMEO. Recognizing Daniel L. Lizotte's status as a veteran, authorities determined he was eligible for an honorable resting place at the Tahoma National Cemetery. A decision was made to ensure his remains received the dignity they deserved; on March 14, 2019, the cremains were officially released to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for burial.
Throughout this process, the efforts taken by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office are indicative of the system’s commitment to providing respectful end-of-life proceedings for unclaimed individuals. Despite the absence of family or friends as claimants, the agency ensured that Daniel L. Lizotte, whose Namus ID is UCP56424, was laid to rest in a manner befitting his military service. The Medical Examiner's Office, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, continues to serve as a crucial agency in handling sensitive situations involving unidentified or unclaimed persons. For additional information, they can be contacted at 253-798-6494.
Date Found: 01/05/2019
