Who Cleans Up a Murder Scene?





As television shows like CSI and Law and Order continue to gain popularity, the general public may think they have a clear understanding of what happens at a murder scene. First, law enforcement officials and crime scene personnel work together to secure the area and collect evidence. Then the scene is fingerprinted and the neighborhood is canvassed looking for anyone with information. However, one big question these shows tend to leave unanswered is who cleans up after the murder?

Because law enforcement officials and crime scene investigators do not have the knowledge or supplies needed to safely sanitize a crime scene, the responsibility of cleaning up after a murder is left to the family members and friends of the deceased.

Crime scene cleaners (also known as bioremediation specialists and forensic cleaners) help alleviate some of this burden by completely sanitizing the crime scene and providing professional and compassionate services to families dealing with the death of a loved one.

Why Proper Cleanup is Important

When you think of a murder scene, you likely think of one thing above all else – blood. When a murder is committed inside someone’s home or place of business, the spilled blood can have detrimental effects on the building’s interior and can infect current and future occupants with certain bloodborne illnesses if not properly sanitized. Trusting a crime scene cleanup company to remediate the scene is one of the best ways for families to protect themselves from infection and ensure the scene is restored to a safe and healthy state.

Why should I hire a bioremediation company rather than clean the scene myself? No matter who cleans up a murder scene, one thing is certain: Special care and attention to detail should be taken to protect everyone involved. Crime scene cleaners are skilled in removing harmful biological contaminants from homes and properties while fully protecting themselves and others from potentially life threatening infections.

How they do it:

Training. While there is no one agency that regulates training for biohazard remediation, crime scene technicians are trained and certified in bloodborne pathogen and chemical exposure.

While there is no one agency that regulates training for biohazard remediation, crime scene technicians are trained and certified in bloodborne pathogen and chemical exposure. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). All technicians wear personal protective equipment, including a double layer of gloves, respiratory gear, and biohazard suits designed specifically for bioremediation.

All technicians wear personal protective equipment, including a double layer of gloves, respiratory gear, and biohazard suits designed specifically for bioremediation. Cross contamination prevention. Technicians establish 3 zones (control zone, buffer zone, and clean zone) using plastic sheeting and bio-tape. This separates contaminated areas from other parts of the building.

Technicians establish 3 zones (control zone, buffer zone, and clean zone) using plastic sheeting and bio-tape. This separates contaminated areas from other parts of the building. Sanitization. Technicians carefully clean the area with proprietary cleaning agents and then test surfaces to detect if any living organisms have survived. Once the cleaning process is complete, they make sure ATP levels are at 0 before considering the scene “clean.”

Technicians carefully clean the area with proprietary cleaning agents and then test surfaces to detect if any living organisms have survived. Once the cleaning process is complete, they make sure ATP levels are at 0 before considering the scene “clean.” Proper disposal of biohazardous material. Once the sanitization phase is complete, bioremediation specialists take all biohazardous materials (blood-soaked carpet, furniture, etc.) to an approved biohazard disposal site in specially marked biohazard containers.

My family has been through a lot, and privacy is a concern for us. Is this something that a bioremediation company will take into consideration?

Absolutely. At Aftermath, we understand that dealing with the death or serious injury of a loved one is one of the most difficult situations you will ever face. Mindful of the emotional trauma associated with a murder scene, our vehicles are discreetly marked to protect our customers’ confidentiality and privacy, and all of our employees go through a rigorous pre-employment process.

Since 1996, Aftermath has provided compassionate and professional services to families dealing with the death of a loved one due to homicide, suicide, or serious accident. When choosing who will clean up the scene of a murder or other violent crime, go with the industry leader. Contact Aftermath today to learn more.



