Short answer
Before a homicide cleanup team arrives, let investigators finish their work and wait for a formal release. Arrange a safe place to stay, ask officers to retrieve essentials, and connect with a victim advocate. After release, secure the home, avoid entering affected rooms, do not attempt any cleaning, and choose one family member to coordinate the provider, insurer and landlord.
The first hours: safety, not cleanup
In the first hours after a homicide, cleanup is not the priority, and it should not be. Your focus is on safety, on each other and on cooperating with investigators. If you are at the home, follow the instructions of police and emergency responders. They will likely ask everyone to leave the property so the scene can be protected.
Find a safe place to stay, whether with relatives, friends or in a hotel. If children are involved, arrange for a trusted adult to care for them away from the home. Try to eat, drink water and rest when you can, even though that may feel impossible.
You may receive calls from detectives, the medical examiner's office and possibly the media. It is fine to let a family member or friend answer calls for you and pass along only what you need to know.
How long will the home be closed, and what can we do meanwhile?
Homicide investigations can keep a home closed for longer than other incidents. Detectives, crime scene technicians and others may need several visits. There is no standard timeline, and the investigating agency decides when the property is released. Procedures differ between agencies, so ask the lead detective or victim advocate how you will be notified.
If you need essentials from the home, such as medication, eyeglasses, identification, phone chargers, school items or clothing, ask investigators whether an officer can retrieve them or escort someone inside briefly. Be specific about where items are located. They may not always be able to help, but it is reasonable to ask.
Write down the name and contact information for the lead detective, the case number and the victim advocate. Keep this information in one place, because you will need it for insurance, compensation and the cleanup provider.
Who can help right now
Many police departments and prosecutors' offices have victim advocates whose role is to support families of homicide victims. An advocate can explain what is happening in the investigation, help you understand victim rights, connect you with counseling and help you apply for crime victim compensation, which in many states can help with cleanup and funeral costs.
The emotional impact of homicide can last a long time, well past the funeral and often through a trial. That is a reason to accept support early and to know that lasting distress is not a sign of weakness.
When the home is released
When investigators tell you the home is released, write down the date and time and confirm whether every part of the property is included. Sometimes a vehicle, garage or single room remains on hold. Share this information with the cleanup provider.
Secure the home. A house that stands empty after a homicide can attract unwanted attention. Make sure doors and windows are locked, and arrange for a locksmith or board-up service if anything was damaged. Consider asking a neighbor you trust to keep an eye on the property.
Do not enter the affected area yourself, and do not attempt any cleaning. Blood and other fluids can carry bloodborne pathogens, and investigators may have left fingerprint powder, chemical reagents and evidence cut-outs that are difficult to address without training. Many families find it healthier not to see the affected room before it is cleaned, and you should never feel obligated to.
- Confirm the release in writing or by noting the officer's name
- Lock doors and windows and repair any damage
- Keep children, pets and visitors away from affected rooms
- Leave evidence residue and cut-outs untouched for professionals
How do we choose a cleanup company without being pressured?
Some families receive calls from companies soon after a homicide, sometimes before they have even thought about cleanup. You are not obligated to hire anyone who contacts you. Take a little time, ask a trusted person to compare two or three providers and ask each for a written scope before work begins.
Ask whether they have handled homicide scenes before, how they will set aside and return your loved one's belongings and how they will protect your privacy. A professional company will answer patiently and will not pressure you to sign immediately.
Choose one family member to coordinate with the provider, insurer and, if the home is rented, the landlord. That person should have authority from the owner or the estate.
If an unfamiliar company arrives at the door or calls repeatedly, it is fine to say you will be in touch if needed and end the conversation. Your victim advocate may know which local providers other families have found respectful and reliable, and that kind of word-of-mouth guidance can be more useful than advertising.
Notifying the insurer and landlord, and briefing the provider
Notify your insurer and landlord as soon as you reasonably can. Most property insurance policies expect prompt notice of a loss, and calling early gives the adjuster a chance to explain what documentation they need before work starts. The first call can be very short: the address, the fact that a death occurred and the home is under police investigation, and the case number. Write down the claim number and the adjuster's name.
If the person who died owned the home alone, the policy may need to be handled by whoever will represent the estate. A relative can usually report the loss and protect the property in the meantime, but payment decisions may wait until someone has legal authority. An estate attorney can explain the steps in your state.
If the home is rented, the landlord will need to know when the property is released and who will coordinate cleanup. Landlords often have their own insurance and sometimes their own preferred vendors. A calm, early conversation about who is arranging and paying for what can prevent confusion. Remember that the tenant's belongings still belong to the tenant or the estate, and the landlord should not dispose of them without written direction.
Mortgage lenders, homeowners associations and building managers may also need to be told, depending on the property. Your coordinator can keep a simple list of everyone notified, with dates and phone numbers, so nothing falls through the cracks while the family is grieving.
Providers need practical information, not graphic details. Your coordinator can share what is known and let the provider fill in the rest during the assessment.
- Address, access instructions and who holds the keys
- Case number, lead detective's name and release date
- Rooms or areas believed to be affected
- Flooring and furniture types, if known
- A short list of belongings the family especially wants recovered
- Insurance company and policy number, if known
- Any privacy concerns, such as media interest or an upcoming funeral
A typical first week, in order
Put together, the first days often follow a rough order. On the first evening, police notify the family and explain that the home will stay closed while detectives investigate. A victim advocate may call soon afterward and offer help.
While the home is held, ask the advocate or detective whether an officer can retrieve urgent items, such as an asthma inhaler or a child's school backpack. Write down the case number, the detective's name and the advocate's phone number as soon as you have them.
Once the home is released, notify the landlord or insurer, ask a friend to call two cleanup companies with a short list of questions and choose the one that offers a written scope and agrees to recover the belongings that matter most, such as family photo albums. No one needs to go inside before the cleaning; the provider can call when the work is done. The advocate can help start a victim compensation application.
How do we look after ourselves while waiting?
Waiting for a home to be released, for answers from investigators and for decisions about a funeral can feel unbearable. Try to let others handle tasks that can be delegated, such as calling providers or insurers. Accept meals, rides and offers to sit with you.
Homicide survivor support groups, grief counselors who understand traumatic loss and faith communities can all provide steady support. If anyone in your family is struggling to cope or feels unsafe, reach out to a doctor or crisis line right away. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure.
