An Unattended Death in Clark County: First Steps
Dial 911 before anything else, even if there's no doubt. Then go outside, wait for the officers, and leave the room as you found it.
The first hour has a set order
Here's what to do after an unattended death in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas or Boulder City. Las Vegas Bio Clean comes in near the end, for the cleanup.
Call 911, unless hospice was involved
Say you've found someone who appears to have died, give the address and stay on the line. Don't move the person, cover them or clean anything. For an expected death in hospice care, the hospice's own instructions come first.
Step outside and keep others out
Take pets and children with you. Leave the doors, windows, thermostat and medication as they are.
Answer what officers ask
They'll want to know the last time anyone saw the person, any illness or prescriptions, and the closest relative. Write down the officer's name and any case number.
Name a mortuary when you're asked
The coroner's office asks the family to choose. Its FAQ says release normally happens within 24 to 48 hours after the examination, and you don't have to use the funeral homes on its rotation.
Clark County's coroner handles every unattended death
The county's office is the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. It looks into any unattended death, no matter the cause, then identifies the person, works with the family and files the death certificate. There's no cost to the family for an autopsy. Its investigators decide whether a case stays with them.
The coroner's office doesn't issue copies of the death certificate. Those come from the Southern Nevada Health District's Vital Records office, and banks, insurers and landlords will each want one. Order several, and allow two to four weeks.
The coroner's office
Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner
1704 Pinto Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89106
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Property is released by appointment only.
Police non-emergency lines differ by city
Use these for a welfare check on someone who hasn't been seen, or a question about whether a scene has been released. Use 911 for an emergency or if you've found someone.
| Where the property is | Agency | Non-emergency line |
|---|---|---|
| City of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County | Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department | 3-1-1 |
| Henderson | Henderson Police Department | 702-267-5000, option 2, or 3-1-1 |
| North Las Vegas | North Las Vegas Police Department | See the department's page |
| Boulder City | Boulder City Police Department | 702-293-9224 |
Belongings need someone with authority
What the investigator takes goes on a signed property receipt. The rest stays in the house, and a relative can usually collect it. If no next of kin is available, the county's Public Administrator may secure the residence and its contents. That office says it doesn't conduct or pay for biohazard cleanup, and once your right to take custody is verified, it may let your cleanup company in first.
Papers worth finding early are the lease or deed, insurance policies, a will and the phone. If they're in the affected room, leave them and tell the crew. Nevada has a small estate affidavit for personal property starting 40 days after the death, so a big clear-out on day two can get ahead of the paperwork.
The room can wait for you, within reason
Once the property is released, nothing obliges you to clean it today. In a Las Vegas summer, though, days count, because heat moves the job along and odor reaches further. Keep the door shut, and tell us on the call whether the air is running.
Don't put stained things in the trash, and please don't scrub anything. If you rent, let the landlord know. If you own, tell your insurer what happened. The crew can take the photos a claim needs.
When the death looks like a crime or a suicide
The first call is the same, 911, and officers may hold the home longer. Ask them to tell you when it's released. Then see crime scene cleanup or suicide cleanup, which also lists loss support. The Nevada cost coverage guide covers insurance and victim compensation when you're ready for it.
The crew's walk-through can happen without you
The visit covers the floor, the walls and the vents, and the crew sends you what it found so you never have to go back in that room.
Call(725) 745-8630When you're ready
- The address, and word that the coroner is done
- Roughly how long before the person was found
- Who has the key and can approve the work