“Los Angeles County Investigators Work to Identify Unclaimed Remains as Thousands are Buried in Mass Graves”

Accident – death – Obituary News : Investigators in Los Angeles County are diligently working to identify thousands of unclaimed remains, ensuring that these individuals receive a proper burial. In cases where identification is not possible, the remains are buried alongside tens of thousands of others in a communal grave for the unclaimed dead. The team of investigators goes to great lengths to uncover information about the deceased, including searching through their possessions, reaching out to nursing homes, and examining public records.

One investigator, Arusyak Martirosyan, finds herself faced with the daunting task of opening the door to a stranger’s cluttered apartment. The belongings of the deceased fill every corner of the one-bedroom space, creating a chaotic and overwhelming environment. Martirosyan dons a protective suit and, accompanied by the building’s property manager, begins the challenging process of searching for any clues that could lead to the identification of the deceased’s family.

Martirosyan is part of the Public Administrator, a branch of the Los Angeles County Department of the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Her role involves unearthing the true essence of the deceased and discovering who they were, who they loved, and what their final wishes may have been. These investigations typically span three years before the deceased is finally laid to rest in a communal gravesite, a last resort in the county cemetery.

Los Angeles County’s efforts to identify and honor the unclaimed dead are particularly challenging due to the large homeless population in the area. The investigators are faced with the daunting task of retracing the lives of these individuals, armed only with a manila file folder containing minimal information about each death.

The process begins as a race against time, as the deceased’s body remains in the county morgue while investigators scramble to locate family members. If no family members are found, the investigators must make the difficult decision to proceed with cremation. They tirelessly make calls to nursing homes and houses of worship, search through public records and ancestry websites, and meticulously comb through the deceased’s homes and apartments in search of any leads.

“I go through their lives in so many ways,” Martirosyan explains. “They do become mine.” The emotional weight of the job is evident in the investigators’ dedication to honoring the lives they encounter, even extending to prayers for the deceased after their workday ends.

In some cases, there are no surviving next-of-kin or loved ones who can afford an individual burial. Other times, estranged relatives are unwilling to be involved, or friends are unable to take possession of the remains through legal means. Martirosyan reflects on how her work has made her acutely aware of her own mortality, prompting important conversations with her teenage son about the inevitability of death.

This awareness drives Martirosyan and her fellow investigators to bring dignity to the tens of thousands of people who die alone in Los Angeles County. Their efforts culminate in a communal burial and a multilingual, interfaith ceremony that has been held annually since 1896. The most recent ceremony, held on December 14th, acknowledged the devastating impact of the pandemic and included those who died from COVID-19. Immigrants, children, and homeless individuals were among those laid to rest.

The ceremony serves as a poignant reminder that the county does not know enough about the individuals being buried to truly honor their lives. County supervisor Janice Hahn expressed a desire to have been there for these individuals in a more meaningful way while they were still alive, to prevent them from dying disconnected and alone.

The burial ceremony is attended by several dozen people, including county employees like Martirosyan and Carlos Herrera, a maintenance worker who has volunteered to help dig graves for over 30 years. In early December, Herrera and his team prepared a grave for the 1,937 plastic boxes containing the ashes of each person. A flat gravestone marks the site, bearing only the year of their deaths.

Martirosyan and her colleagues are just beginning to uncover the life of the 74-year-old woman whose apartment they searched in November. Armed with limited information, they meticulously examine the contents of her apartment, searching for any clues that could lead them to potential relatives. The investigators find various items, such as framed Korean Bible verses, disability benefit forms, and bank statements, all of which could provide valuable insight into the woman’s life.

Back at their office in downtown Los Angeles, the investigators hand over the evidence to a colleague, suggesting that they explore potential relatives in Korea. If no relatives are found within three years, the county will handle the woman’s interment. If she had enough money in her estate, her ashes would be placed in an individual niche in a columbarium. Otherwise, she may be buried in the communal grave in 2026.

The next day, Martirosyan receives a breakthrough on another case. She informs a woman, who had been estranged from her mother, of her mother’s passing. While devastating news, it also means that her mother will not end up in the county’s unclaimed grave. Martirosyan considers it a good day when she can help connect the deceased with their loved ones, even if it is only in death.

In a county with nearly 10 million people, there are always more lives waiting to be claimed. Martirosyan turns her attention back to her backlog of cases, ready to delve into the intricacies of each individual’s life once again. The work of these investigators is crucial in ensuring that even those who die alone receive the dignity and respect they deserve..