this is gonna sound crazy but how do I find a dead person?

Question

I'm looking for my dad. I know the details surrounding his "death" that I've always been told, but for awhile now I havent believed he's dead simply because whenever I tell anyone they get this real skeptical attitude about it & start asking questions. The questions are fine, but all I have to answer with are the answers I've been given. And now that Ive been thinking about it the story has enough holes in it to be swiss cheese. Thing is...how do I find him? Yes there is a grave, but noone has ever acted sad over it and theres NO funeral records anywhere for him(how weird is this...my gramma used to dress us up & take us for picnic & pics by it.) My family gets all bunched up & secretive if I ever ask. I have found a ssdi record for the details theyve told me, but a law friend told me that that could mean nothing because sometimes people do that & become someone entirely new. If this happened, how do I find him? Also, please no rude or pointless answers.Thanks so much. (=

there is a social security death record...I've seen it. This is the same as a death certificate, right?
However, a friend of mine going to law school asked her professor and he told me that it doesn't happen often but sometimes people choose to completely change their identity, which can involve filing a death record before they become who they are becoming.

If this is the case, wouldn't he have a new social security number now?

Answer 1

It could be that your Dad committed suicide. This would explain why there wasn't a big funeral. It also explains why they don't want to give you details in order to spare you the pain.

Answer 2

In some cases the Social Security Death Index has a "v" or "p" next to the date of death. The "p" means that a death certificate has been seen. the "v" is evidence that the death was verified by a family member. However, many deaths are neither verified or proved. If you know the state where your father died, obtain an death certificate application (these can often be found on-line), send in the fee and in a few weeks you with either have a death certificate or a response indicating there has been no report of your father's death. Hope this helps.
Good luck!

Answer 3

There must be a death certificate!

Why not go back to the cemetery and ask them if they have any information? They may, for example, have a record of the undertakers that were used. And they must have seen the death certificate. That will give you a starting point for finding out what happened to your father.

If you have seen the grave, study it and get a date - then ask at your local newspaper.

However, some people just do not like to think about death in a sad way, so perhaps their reaction is not so strange, if you think like that. You also have to think if your dad may not have been a pleasant person for some reason, but he was still your grandmother's son, so she wanted to make sure you knew something about him.

Good luck with your search!

Answer 4

Check with the Division of Vital Statistics where he allegedly died. They should be able to supply you with a death certificate. That DC will have his social security number and dob on it. That should give you all the information you need to find him.

You could hire a PI. They aren't that expensive and let them do the leg work.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Easiest way if you know his social security number a simple background check will display if there has been any activity.Social security will allow you to forward a letter to him they will forward it to him than it's up to him to reply back. A background check would offer quick results.Good luck

Answer 6

Did you loose one?

I'm sorry, the temptation was too much.