Trauma cleanup companies bridge disaster, healing

Most companies clean crime scenes in addition to offering other types of disaster relief.

After the evidence has been collected and the witnesses interviewed, after the paramedics and police are gone, victims of a crime or death in their home are often left with more than just questions and sorrow — they’re left with a big mess.

It’s an aspect of dealing with a trauma that’s often overlooked by TV dramas like “CSI” and “Law and Order,” but there are real local people that make their living cleaning up crime scenes.

“A lot of people don’t even know where to start,” said Jimmy Leckrone, a manager with Restoration Resources in Centerville. He said many families don’t realize that hiring a bioremediation company to do trauma cleanup is typically covered by homeowners insurance.

“Insurance covers it as an accident or vandalism in your home and they pay to restore the home to its original condition,” said Bruce Clepper, a two-year employee of Xtreme Resolutions in Butler County.

Leckrone said his company usually handles about five or six crime scenes per year, not enough to support a full-time business. He said most companies do trauma cleanup in addition to other types of disaster relief including flood or fire remediation.

“A lot of the equipment and techniques are the same,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com.

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