After a violent crime
Crime scene and trauma cleanup in Greenville
Once investigators leave, the home still has to be put right. An independent cleanup company can do that so you and your family do not have to.
Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Wait for the release
Police control the scene until they have what they need. Ask the officer in charge when the home will be released and write down the case or report number. In Greenville the police department's number is (252) 329-4317; outside the city limits, it is the Pitt County Sheriff's Office at (252) 830-4141.
You can call a cleanup company before the release. They can plan the work and be ready to start once the scene is yours again.
What the work usually covers
- Removing blood and other fluids from floors, walls and furniture, and taking out what cannot be cleaned
- Cutting out stained carpet, pad, drywall or subfloor where fluids soaked in
- Sealing removed material in marked containers for proper disposal
- Cleaning residue left by investigators, such as fingerprint powder
- Disinfecting and deodorizing so the room can be used again
Keep the paperwork for victim compensation
North Carolina Crime Victims Compensation, run by the Department of Public Safety, lists crime scene cleanup among the costs it can help with. Its list mentions door and window locks and cleaning blood from car interiors (what may be compensated).
For a cleanup claim, the program asks for the itemized bill from the biohazard cleanup company, so ask for one. It also expects insurance to be used first and does not pay for property that was lost or damaged. Most applications must be made within two years.
Questions go to the program at (800) 826-6200, or start at ncdps.gov/4victims.
Do I need to be home while the company works?
No. Ask how they handle keys and access, and whether they will send photos when the work is done.
Can I keep anything from the room?
Tell the company before they start which items matter to you. They can try to clean them or set them aside. Some things that soaked up fluids cannot be saved safely.
Will the police clean up?
No. Police and investigators leave once they have finished. Cleaning is up to the owner or the person responsible for the property.
Other situations
- Unattended deathWhen someone died alone and was not found for some time.What to expect
- SuicideSo that no one in the family has to go back in and clean.What to expect
- Blood and bodily fluidsBlood or fluids in carpet, flooring, furniture or a workplace.What to expect
- Hoarding with biohazardsAnimal or human waste, spoiled food or other hazards in a crowded home.What to expect
- Infectious disease disinfectionCleaning and disinfecting a room after illness or exposure to bodily fluids.What to expect
- VehiclesBlood or bodily fluids inside a car, truck or van.What to expect
When you are ready, one call is enough
Say what happened and where. If the police or the medical examiner are still there, say so; the company will plan around their release. Nothing starts until you agree to it.
Talk to a cleanup company
Call (252) 555-0107Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.