If I were to die and could not be identified what would happen?

Question

Hi. Say if I were to die somewhere in the world and could not be identified, what would probably happen to my body? Would I be burried, burned or just left to rot? I know its different for different countries, but what would be the most likely event?

Answer 1

Well in this unlikely event that you could not be identified through dental records or DNA data then you would be given a burial on state money which basically means the cheapest burial you could think of.
So please try not to die in a way which would make you unidentifiable.
xxx

Answer 2

Your body would likely be held in the morgue for some defined period of time and if not identified you would either be cremated and interred or buried in a "Potter's Field", which is a burial ground for the indigent or unidentified.

Nowadays, some sort of DNA sample might be retained for a while longer, especially if your death was from suspicious circumstances or the obvious victim of foul play.

Alley

Answer 3

it would depend a lot on where in the world you were but a a general rule your body would be taken to a mortuary somewhere for a post mortem examination to find cause of death then an attempt would be made to find who you are and repatriate your body if this could not be done they would dispose of your body in a paupers grave somewhere.. I work in a hospital mortuary so know what i am talking about. Post- mortem is performed:
To determine the exact cause of death To diagnose the terminal disease accurately and to ascertain the existence of unsuspected complications or other diseases To establish whether the death was related to an industrial disease, chemicals or poisons To establish whether the death was due to violent or suspicious circumstances To establish whether treatment could be improved in the future.

Answer 4

Most likely, if you were not in a third world country, you will be taken to a morgue, be labeled as a Jane Doe. If no one claims you in a reasonable time, you will be be buried in a potter's field, or cremated.

Answer 5

In the US, if reported to police you are crime-scened and autopsied and put in a Jane/John Doe listing with all identifiable info they can enter. The body is held and eventually buried so it can be exumed in the case of further investigation.

Answer 6

Most likely you would be labeled as a john doe or Jane doe and your body disposed of. You might even get a grave marker depending.

Answer 7

most likely you would be labeled john doe(or jane) # 1234(depending on what # unidentified body you are in what ever city/county you are in). then the city would pay for your burial. they log in where you are located in case anyone ever reports someone who sounds like you missing. then they can exhume the body and run the necessary tests. they very rarely cremate unidentified bodies because cold cases are sometimes solved.

Answer 8

Most civilized (as most people would define "civilized") countries have a cemetary specifically for unidentified people. In other countries, you would more than likely be buried in a mass grave or cremated.

Answer 9

I would have to agree with Alley.They would keep you in a morgue for some time and wait to see if someone files a missing persons report.
My advice to you is keep an ID with you all the time.

Answer 10

I think in the us you would be cremated, but it doesnt really matter what happens to your body anyway. You aren't in it. I'd be more worried about where the rest of me was going.