FOR IMMEDIATE HELP
- Mindful Cleanup – Supporting families with sensitivity during times of loss
- Last Line of Help – Providing care and closure after first responders have gone
- Trauma Protection – Helping prevent re-exposure to support the healing process
When people hear about crime scene cleanup(CTS)—self-inflicted incidents or unattended death incidents—they often think about the physical work involved: removing hazardous materials and sanitizing spaces to ensure a safe and clean environment. But what most don’t realize is that our work is just as much about emotional support as it is about bioremediation.
Our motto, “No one should be victimized twice,” comes from years of witnessing how trauma extends beyond the immediate event. When someone experiences a sudden loss—especially in their own home—the aftermath can feel impossible to face. That’s where we step in as remediation professionals and compassionate presences during some of life’s darkest moments.
A Teenager’s Silent Repetition
I’ll never forget a teenage boy at a scene years ago. His mother had chosen to murder her husband, his father, and then take her own life in their bedroom. I watched him pace the house as I spoke with the family—his aunts, uncles, and other relatives. He kept drifting toward the bedroom where it had happened, stopping at the doorway, staring in at the gruesome scene, then retreating, only to repeat the cycle. He wasn’t saying a word, but his body language said everything. Hands in his pockets, he couldn’t pull himself away.
The family, also consumed with grief, was focused on making arrangements, signing paperwork, and dealing with their shock. They hadn’t noticed how often the son had returned to that doorway.
As the family was consumed reading our contract, I walked over to our crew chief and softly said, “The moment you see our contract is signed, take some equipment over to the doorway and block the view for that young man. He doesn’t need to keep seeing it.” She quickly moved a box to obstruct the doorway, gently but firmly setting a boundary. When the boy approached again, she simply said, “I’m sorry, but we don’t allow anyone in our workspace once we begin.”
His response was immediate: “Oh, okay.” Then, for the first time, he sat down on the couch. That moment sticks with me because it shows how trauma can hold someone in place, replaying the worst moments of their lives over and over. Sometimes, people need permission to step away.
More Than Just Cleanup
Our work goes beyond scrubbing walls or removing the last of the unthinkable. We manage trauma, protect families from being re-exposed to the most painful parts of their loss, listen when they need to talk, and step in when they don’t know what to do next.
Grief is unpredictable. Some people want to avoid the scene entirely, while others feel compelled to look—to understand, say goodbye, and make sense of something that will never truly make sense. We guide them with care, always mindful that they’re not just dealing with the aftermath of a loved one’s passing—they’re dealing with a moment that will stay with them forever.
The Last Stop in Community Service
Some argue that CTS companies are not community services because we charge for our services. But we see it differently. The police respond, the paramedics arrive, and the funeral home makes arrangements. But when all of them leave, the trauma remains—physically and in our memories.
That’s where we come in. We are often the last to serve a family in their crisis, ensuring they don’t have to carry the burden alone. And that’s why it’s more than a job for us. It’s a misnistry.
We deliver care, compassion, and peace of mind to the families and, ultimately, the community.
Moving Forward
If you or someone you know ever experiences this kind of tragedy, know that no one has to go through it alone. Our team is here to clean and remediate, provide a path forward that respects your grief, and help you take the next step.
Crime Scene Cleaners—because no one should be victimized twice.
Written for Crime Scene Cleaners © COPYRIGHT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED