In late April, our Bio SoCal crews were out helping four different clients during a difficult time including a murder-suicide, an unattended death, a suicide, and an accidental shooting death in a vehicle. Each task needed meticulous biohazard cleanup and remediation to protect the health and safety of others.
Murder-Suicide in Alhambra
Out in Alhambra in the 900 block of North Almansor Street, a neighborhood resident requested a welfare check from the Alhambra police on two neighbors after they had been unreachable for several days. When police arrived, they found the backdoor unlocked with no sign of forced entry. In the living room were the bodies of a man and woman, both aged 56 and both shot to death. Upon investigation, it was determined the man shot the woman first, then shot himself. It has not been released whether or not the couple were married.
Once the on-site investigation was concluded and the property released, Bio SoCal was called to the scene for suicide and murder cleanup. Between the time of the shooting and when the bodies were found, blood had soaked through multiple layers of flooring and each one needed to be removed and disposed of as biohazardous waste. We then thoroughly cleaned the space, removed all cross-contamination, and permanently removed the odor so the family could grieve in peace and move forward with going through the personal belongings in the home.
We understand how receiving such news of loved ones is overwhelming, let alone dealing with the resulting blood and body fluids. While we couldn’t prevent this tragedy from happening, we worked hard to make sure the property was safe and all traces of the murder-suicide removed along with all investigative chemicals.
Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in this and the other tragedies we cleaned up on the same day.
Check on your family and friends
Please check in on your friends and family regularly to “say hello” and truly be there if they need to talk or just hang out. People don’t often express their feelings directly when they are in pain. Simply by your presence and expressed kindness, you may just save a life and not even know it. If you are unable to get a hold of your loved one and think they are in danger, you can request a wellness check from the police who will go to their house to check on the person’s welfare. The police will then let you know the results of what they find out. This can be especially helpful if no one has been answering the door or you live far away. To request one, simply call the non-emergency line for your loved one’s local police department and they will guide you through the process.
The National Suicide Hotline is here to help
Everyone needs help at one time or another. If you are thinking of hurting yourself or someone else, call the National Suicide Hotline at 988. Available 24-7, the 988 hotline is staffed by crisis counselors who are ready to help you whenever you need them. No matter what you’re going through, there are other options out there. Call 988 for help.
