Scammer
Banned
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Two unclaimed bodies are wasting away at the Medical Examiner's office in Norfolk, while Portsmouth leaders bicker over who will pay for their final resting place.
One of the bodies has been there for eight months. The bodies belong to Portsmouth men David Williams and Samuel Hetzel.
Williams was found dead of a heart attack on July 4. WAVY.com couldn't find any known address, and workers believe he was homeless.
By law, it's the sheriff's duty to manage arrangements for unclaimed bodies, but the it's the city's responsibility to pay for it.
Portsmouth Undersheriff John Gomoke said the state cut reimbursements for cremations from $750 to $250 in July. Since then, the city has ignored his e-mails to make up the difference.
"In my opinion and my opinion only, the city management is turning a blind eye to this issue. They'd rather sit on a thousand bucks than give these people a burial," said Gomoke.
"It's embarrassing, it's definitely embarrassing," said Portsmouth Vice Mayor Charles Whitehurst, "I represent 100,000 people in the city who don't want to hear this. They don't want to hear this. Somebody fix it."
When WAVY.com contacted the city manager, he responded with an e-mail he sent to the city council. It read in part, "City Council has appropriated $5.9 million in local tax revenue, for the discretionary use by the Sheriff... If the Sheriff does not have the financial resources within his total budget...I would recommend that he make a special appropriation request for Council consideration."
In the meantime, it's been months and Williams and Hetzel are still waiting to rest in peace.
One of the bodies has been there for eight months. The bodies belong to Portsmouth men David Williams and Samuel Hetzel.
Williams was found dead of a heart attack on July 4. WAVY.com couldn't find any known address, and workers believe he was homeless.
By law, it's the sheriff's duty to manage arrangements for unclaimed bodies, but the it's the city's responsibility to pay for it.
Portsmouth Undersheriff John Gomoke said the state cut reimbursements for cremations from $750 to $250 in July. Since then, the city has ignored his e-mails to make up the difference.
"In my opinion and my opinion only, the city management is turning a blind eye to this issue. They'd rather sit on a thousand bucks than give these people a burial," said Gomoke.
"It's embarrassing, it's definitely embarrassing," said Portsmouth Vice Mayor Charles Whitehurst, "I represent 100,000 people in the city who don't want to hear this. They don't want to hear this. Somebody fix it."
When WAVY.com contacted the city manager, he responded with an e-mail he sent to the city council. It read in part, "City Council has appropriated $5.9 million in local tax revenue, for the discretionary use by the Sheriff... If the Sheriff does not have the financial resources within his total budget...I would recommend that he make a special appropriation request for Council consideration."
In the meantime, it's been months and Williams and Hetzel are still waiting to rest in peace.
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