What happens first
Because the death was sudden, police and the Yakima County Coroner will come. Washington law places the person in the coroner's care, and nothing should be moved until they say so (RCW 68.50.010).
The Yakima County Coroner is at 128 N 2nd Street in Yakima, phone (509) 574-1610. They can answer questions about personal belongings and about when the person can be taken to a funeral home.
When the police and the coroner have left, close the door to the room. You do not have to decide anything else today.
When you call about the cleanup
- You can ask for an unmarked vehicle and plain clothing for arrival.
- You do not need to be there. Someone can hand over a key.
- Tell them about anything you want kept: a letter, a phone, photographs.
- Ask that they walk you through what they will remove before they start.
If it happened in a rented home or a vehicle
The landlord or property manager has to be told, because floors and walls may need to be replaced. You can ask the cleanup company to talk to them directly.
A car or truck can usually be cleaned too. The vehicle page explains what that involves.
Yakima and the valley around it
Nobody in the family has to clean this
An independent cleanup company can take it from here once the police and the coroner are done. Asking questions on the phone commits you to nothing.
When you are ready to talk
Say what happened, where it is and who owns the property. The company explains what it would do. You decide whether to go ahead.
Call (509) 555-0106Phones staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.