On July 30, 2018, in Tacoma, Washington, the body of a 55-year-old male, identified as Mekael N. Barehe, was discovered. The circumstances surrounding his passing were determined to be natural causes that occurred at his residence. Despite the clear cause of death, the subsequent investigation revealed a poignant aspect: Mekael N. Barehe was without known next of kin. This lack of familial connections posed significant challenges for the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office (PCMEO) as they undertook an extensive search to identify any potential family members or acquaintances who might claim his remains or provide insight into his life.
Despite their thorough efforts, which included exhaustive searches and various outreach attempts, the PCMEO was unable to locate any relatives or acquaintances of Mr. Barehe. Consequently, the case of Mekael N. Barehe remained unresolved in terms of personal connections, highlighting a situation not uncommon in medico-legal investigations. As per their protocol in handling unclaimed persons, the PCMEO initially transferred his remains to a rotation funeral home. Ultimately, Mr. Barehe was cremated, with the cremains returned to the PCMEO for safekeeping.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, continues to hold the cremains, should there ever be a claim in the future. For any inquiries or potential information regarding this case, the PCMEO can be reached at 253-798-6494. They maintain their commitment to resolving cases such as these, understanding that each unclaimed individual represents a life once lived and deserving of closure. The case is cataloged under Agency Case Number: 18-1530, with Namus ID UCP56419, signifying the official documentation and ongoing record of this unresolved matter.
Date Found: 07/30/2018
