Lives lost but not forgotten – 2023 Indigent Remains Ceremony 

Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a unique memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. The KCMEO’s Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial. This program serves people whose families either could not be located or could not provide for the proper disposition of remains. 

The next ceremony to remember these individuals will take place on Wednesday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton (100 Blaine Ave NE). It’s open to any member of the public who wishes to pay their respects. 

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Do you know me? Help identify two unknown people found dead in King County 

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is asking for the public’s help to identify two people found dead in two separate cases in King County.  The Medical Examiner’s Office is releasing forensic sketches and information related to the two cases with the goal of bringing answers to who these people were.

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Gone But Not Forgotten – Indigent Remains Ceremony 2022

Grave marker with flowers and painting

Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a unique memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. The KCMEO’s Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial.

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Gone but not forgotten — 2019

Grave marker with flowers and painting

Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a unique memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. Those who died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial are looked after through the work of the county’s indigent remains program. The next ceremony to remember these individuals […]

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Recognizing deaths among people experiencing homelessness

Nearly 3,000 deaths are investigated by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) every year. And for more than a decade, the Medical Examiner has partnered with the Health Care for the Homeless program to research and identify which of those people were presumed to be experiencing homelessness.
“We do this work to help the community both pay attention and remember. When people are remembered, they are treated with more dignity,” said John Gilvar, program manager for Health Care for the Homeless, which is part of Public Health—Seattle & King County.

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