After a violent crime
Crime scene cleanup in Knoxville
When police finish with a home, they leave the cleaning to the family. An independent crime scene cleanup company can take that on, so you do not have to see the room again until it is done.
Reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before the cleanup can start
The police decide when the scene is released. Until then, leave everything where it is, even things that seem unrelated. Detectives may come back for more photographs or evidence.
If no one has told you when you can go back in, call Knoxville Police on the non-emergency number, 865-215-4010, and give them the case number. Outside the city, ask the sheriff's office or town police that came to the house.
Paying for it
Tennessee's crime victim fund
Criminal Injuries Compensation, run by the state Treasury, may consider the cost of cleaning and removing materials when the crime took place in the victim's home or the home of a relative who qualifies. It does not pay for repairs or replacements.
Deadlines to keep in mind
The crime must be reported to police within 15 days, and the claim filed within two years. The fund pays only what insurance or another source does not.
Keep the paperwork
Hold on to the police report number, and get an invoice that lists each part of the job. The application asks for both.
Questions to ask the company
- Will you put the price in writing before you start?
- Which items have to go, and which can be cleaned and given back?
- How do you keep the rest of the home from being contaminated while you work?
- Which disinfectant do you use, and how long does it stay on surfaces?
- How will the waste be sealed and hauled off?
- Can you work with my insurer, and will you photograph the damage first?
Questions people ask
Will the cleanup company deal with the police for me?
No. The police release the scene to you or the property owner. The company can start once you tell them it is released.
Does a crime scene cleanup include repairs?
Usually not. The company removes and disinfects. If drywall or flooring has to come out, rebuilding is a separate job, often for a general contractor.
Can I stay in the house while the work is done?
Ask the company. Many seal off the affected rooms, but most families prefer to stay elsewhere for a day or two.
Call whenever you feel ready
You do not need to know the right words or have a plan. Say what happened, where it is, and whether the police or the medical examiner have finished. The company takes it from there, and the decision to hire stays with you.
Speak with a cleanup company
An independent company that works around Knoxville answers. Tell them what happened and where, then ask how they would handle it and how they price the job. The choice to go ahead is yours alone.
Call (865) 276-0393Reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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