Each day in the state of California, about five people are murdered. 1,829 homicides were reported in California, according to the state’s Attorney General. A considerable percentage of California homicides occur in homes. Because of the circumstances surrounding most crimes of this nature, comprehensive homicide cleanup is necessary.
Overview of Homicide Cleanup
Homicide cleanup represents one of the most challenging types of endeavors that a homeowner will ever face during the course of a lifetime. A homicide scene oftentimes is contaminated with blood, bodily fluids, and other biological materials. Additionally, a crime scene cleanup of this type is made more challenging by the fact that blood and other bodily fluids can contain what are known as dangerous pathogens.
Pathogens typically are viruses and bacteria that can exist in blood and bodily fluids. These viruses and bacteria are capable of infecting people who come into contact with these biological materials at a murder scene, including a biohazard scene cleanup crew. The most common pathogens that are transmitted by potentially infected blood and bodily fluids are those that can cause:
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- MRSA
- HIV
Because of the potential for exposure to dangerous viruses and bacteria, appropriate equipment, supplies, and experience are required to safely and effectively undertake homicide cleanup. This includes the utilization of appropriate personal protective equipment designed specifically for this type of death cleanup. This personal protective equipment must include:
- Mask
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Smock or other protective garments
Stages of Biohazard Crime Scene Cleanup
Each homicide cleanup will have a unique set of requirements depending on the circumstances surrounding the death and other factors. With that noted, there typically are four primary phases associated with a safe, comprehensive biohazard crime scene cleanup:
- Cleaning and removal of blood, bodily fluids, and other matter
- Sanitization of the homicide scene
- Deodorization of the death scene
- Restoration of the residence to a fully safe and habitable condition
The reality is that a homeowner is not apt to have access to the supplies, materials, and equipment necessary to undertake the multi-faceted process of homicide cleanup. Equally significant, a homeowner doesn’t have the experience and background necessary to safely and thoroughly clean up the scene of a homicide or any other type of violent crime.
A biohazard remediation company that specializes in crime scene cleanup, including homicide cleanup, provides emergency response. In other words, a murder scene cleanup crew can be onsite of a homicide immediately.
Professional Homicide Cleanup Assistance
The recommended course is for a homeowner to seek out the assistance of a professional homicide cleanup company. A professional biohazard remediation service has the experience and resources necessary to safely and thoroughly undertake comprehensive murder scene cleanup. In addition, a professional has a strong background in working with families and others who’ve lost a loved in a homicide.
Many people understandably are unsure as to who bears responsibility for a homicide cleanup. Television and movies likely have resulted in people being misled in this regard, at least to some degree. A good number of people who have a family member killed in the home initially think that the coroner, law enforcement, or even a local health department are charged with overseeing a biohazard cleanup arising from a crime in a home.
The fact is that no governmental entity bears this responsibility. It rests squarely in the shoulders of the homeowner or family of the person who was killed. This is a horrific added burden to what already is a traumatic situation.
The family of a murdered person is already enduring incomprehensible grief. Compounding that grief by personally taking on the task of homicide cleanup is utterly unnecessary.
Victim Assistance for the Family of a Murder Victim
In seeking a professional homicide cleanup professional, the family of a murder victim is best served to seek a specialist that has a background in providing comprehensive support. In that regard, a family that is dealing with the aftermath of the murder of a loved one in their home may have access to different types of victim assistance of which they may not be aware. An experienced, compassionate, committed death cleanup specialist will have the experience necessary to assist the family of a homicide victim in accessing these important resources.
One important resource for family members who lost a loved one in a murder is the California Victim Compensation Board. The Board provides financial assistance to victims of crime. This assistance includes compensation for fees associated with obtaining professional emotional and mental health support and assistance. In the case of a family of a California homicide victim, the Board provides up to $1,000 to assist in paying for murder scene cleanup.
Another resource that may be available in the aftermath of a homicide that occurs in a home is homeowner’s insurance. There are instances in which homeowner’s insurance covers some of all of the costs associated with death cleanup, including those costs associated with a homicide cleanup crew.