Trauma, Suicide & Homicide Cleanup in Fort Worth, TX
What is specific to Fort Worth after a suicide, a homicide or another violent death: who investigates, when the person and the home are released, and who pays for the cleanup.
- Tarrant County
- Call or request a callback
- Advertised $1,500 – $9,000
In Fort Worth
What is specific to Fort Worth
Fort Worth in particular
In Fort Worth, as everywhere in Texas, a suicide is always investigated — Article 49.25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure makes it the medical examiner's duty — and here that is the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District, one office for Tarrant, Parker, Denton and Johnson Counties. It is routine, not a suspicion. The district keeps a part-time Family Advocate on 817-920-5700, ext. 8672, and states that assistance is available 24 hours a day on the main number.
Two clocks start the same day. The person is generally ready for release to a funeral home within 24 hours, but releases happen on weekdays only, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with none on weekends or holidays — so a death late on a Friday usually means a Monday release. The examination report runs on its own clock: the county says it may take up to twelve weeks or longer, and anything that waits on the cause of death, an insurance claim or an estate among them, waits on that.
The home is released by Fort Worth Police, not by the examiner. The main line, 817-392-4200, is listed for 8:00 to 5:00 Monday to Friday; after 5:00 PM and on weekends the department directs callers to 817-392-3900 at 501 Jones St.
The state crime victims' fund usually does not reach a suicide: the Attorney General's list of covered crimes does not include it. If the police are still treating the death as a possible crime, Fort Worth Police Victim Assistance on 817-392-4390 is the office to ask before ruling it out.
After a homicide it is the other way round: the state program does apply, up to $2,250 toward cleanup after insurance and never for repairs, and there are two offices to help with the claim — Fort Worth Police Victim Assistance on 817-392-4390, and the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Victim Services on 817-884-2740. Keep the police report number; the claim rests on it. Separately, the same program pays up to $1,000 to replace property the police took as evidence, if it is listed in the offense report — ask the officer to list it.
Before anyone enters
Wait for the property to be released. In Fort Worth the non-emergency number is 817-392-4222; ask who to speak to about access before family members go back in.
Providers serving Fort Worth
No company has finished our checks in Fort Worth yet, so there is nothing here we would stand behind.
Request a callback in Fort Worth
Leave your number and the address you are asking about in Fort Worth. We will tell you plainly what we can and cannot do for it. No obligation, and we are not a cleanup company ourselves.
Trauma & Suicide Cleanup in Fort Worth: common questions
Who pays for suicide cleanup in Fort Worth?
Usually the owner or the estate, through homeowners' or renters' insurance where the policy covers it. The state crime victims' compensation program does not: the Attorney General's list of covered crimes does not include suicide. If the police are still treating the death as a possible crime, ask Fort Worth Police Victim Assistance on 817-392-4390 before ruling it out.
Who pays for homicide cleanup in Fort Worth?
Insurance first. After that, the state Crime Victims' Compensation Program pays up to $2,250 toward cleanup, after insurance and never for repairs, and up to $1,000 to replace property the police took as evidence if it is listed in the offense report. Fort Worth Police Victim Assistance (817-392-4390) and the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Victim Services (817-884-2740) both help with the claim.
When does the Tarrant County medical examiner release the person?
The district says a body is generally ready for release to a funeral home within 24 hours, but releases happen on weekdays only, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with none on weekends or holidays. A death late on a Friday usually means a Monday release. Choosing a funeral home early is the step the family controls.
Who releases the house after a death in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth Police, not the medical examiner. The main line, 817-392-4200, is listed for 8:00 to 5:00 Monday to Friday; after 5:00 PM and on weekends the department directs callers to 817-392-3900 at 501 Jones St. Nothing inside should be moved or cleaned before the release.
Is there someone at the medical examiner who helps families?
Yes. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District keeps a part-time Family Advocate on 817-920-5700, ext. 8672, and states that assistance is available 24 hours a day on 817-920-5700.
Sources for Fort Worth
- Where the advertised range comes from — Texas cleanup costs — the $1,500 – $9,000 badge spans the published vendor figures for trauma and suicide jobs; not a Texas price and not a quote
- Bio Recovery — crime scene cleanup cost — vendor ranges: suicide $1,500 – $5,500; trauma or violent crime $2,500 – $9,000
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 49.25 — section 6: every suicide is investigated
- Tarrant County Medical Examiner — about the district — Tarrant, Parker, Denton and Johnson Counties
- Tarrant County Medical Examiner — family services — part-time Family Advocate, ext. 8672
- Tarrant County Medical Examiner — FAQ — 24-hour assistance, release within 24 hours, report up to 12 weeks
- Tarrant County Medical Examiner — information for funeral homes — weekday release hours
- Fort Worth Police Department — contact — main line, after-hours line, Victim Assistance 817-392-4390
- Texas Attorney General — crime scene clean-up reimbursement — up to $2,250, after insurance
- Texas Attorney General — replacement of seized property — up to $1,000
- Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney — Victim Services
- Texas Attorney General — crime victims’ compensation eligibility — the list of covered crimes
Worth reading
Before you call anyone in Fort Worth
Suicide cleanup in Texas: what happens, who pays
Every suicide is investigated; what insurance and the state pay, and what to ask.
Read itWho releases a death scene in Texas, and when you can go back in
Which office does what, county by county, and what none of them will do.
Read itDoes Texas pay for crime scene cleanup?
Up to $2,250, after your insurance and not before it, and never for repairs.
Read itThe other services, for Fort Worth
More about trauma & suicide cleanup
Costs, process and what to expect, written for Texas as a whole.
Nearby
Cleanup help near Fort Worth
Elsewhere in Texas
Other Texas cities we cover
Further away, and each with its own county offices, release process and sources.