Cutting Thousands of Bodies for a Living | Informer

“Evil people are all around. They look like everyone”

I was a crime scene cleaner and the 2 worst jobs that stick to me most was cleaning an apartment of a man who was found dead for months on the floor. His body was practically a liquid gelatin mush and the smell is something ill never forget. The other was cleaning up skull fragments from a ceiling left by a teen who killed himself via shotgun. This one hit different because we all were able to hear his dad weeping in the room next door, it definitely tugged us emotionally.

I pray for this brother's psyche, serenity and well-being

you really have to take your hats off to these guys, i cant imagine how disgusting this must be, but hey like he said, at least you can bring justice to the deceased

My first love (James) had a best friend who’s cousin was (is probably still) a mortician. His name is David. David moved to town, and became fairly close with our group of friends. I went to high school with a guy named Freddy that he was friends with. Unfortunately, Freddy got into a car accident, was thrown from the vehicle and split in two. David was the guy they called to go retrieve him. I felt so bad for him. Like how could someone keep sane, especially when it was a friend? Fast forward several years.. my first love was working in the oil fields and got hit in the head by a counter weight on an oil rig. I’m told he died instantly. David, yet again, was the man called to retrieve and prep his friends body. I asked him some time after “How? How can you possibly do this job and not grow weary? Especially when it’s been your friends?” He said “It’s the last honor I can give them in this life. And, I’d rather it be me than someone who wouldn’t honor them.” That is the kindest way I’ve ever heard the death “industry” put.

When my mum passed away two years ago I insisted that it was a closed coffin at the funeral due to the amount of time that passed. My family did not seem to comprehend what time does to a loved one's body. I miss her every day, but I am grateful for the funeral home agreeing with me. Your last memory of a loved one should be the best possible if possible.

This informer series is outstanding. Kudos to the team behind it. And those willing to share these startling powerful testimonies.

I’m a doctor now but when I was a medical student, I did a 6 months placement in forensic pathology. We would do autopsies on 3-4 bodies at a time, side by side on different tables in the same room. I’ve always been a deep thinker and at some quiet moments I would look at these bodies, off all the different lives they’ve lived, different souls and all now in the same room, having THE most intimate, vulnerable and also violent act done to them. I cannot put into words what the 6 weeks were like, it’ll be too long, but it’s an experience I will never forget (just one I box away because..)

having open heart surgery is like being alive after an autopsy. i have nightmares every week after the experience. waking up after wards i was in so much pain. it is indescribable. well its like having your chest sawed open and butterflied. thats exactly what they do to you. its not a pleasant feeling. i will be on heavy meds for the remainder of my life. i am SO grateful to be alive, but i still spend most of my days relaxing inside. i just cant handle stress the same way anymore and it makes me shake violently and have thoughts of impending doom.. i am on my way to pick up meds right now. i hope i am able to be alive for a few more decades. but i dont want to live them suffering in pain. cherish your health and TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY! you only have one. imagine your body like a vehicle. now imagine a vehicle that you are given at 16. it can be your ultimate dream car. but you only get ONE VEHICLE for your life. now picture how well you are going to be taking care of that vehicle. you need it to run for a long time. now that is your body. but you cant fix your body like you can fix a vehicle. but you can take care of it with diet and exercise.

"Death Industry; It deals with the thing, that nobody wants to deal with." That just about sums it up right there.

My late husband was an autopsy technician. I understand what this man goes through! God bless you! You help speak for the dead!

How does a dead body stay undiscovered for months at a hotel? Was there literally nobody that ever went in to clean the rooms? How did that particular room go that long without being given out to another guest? Very strange.

Such a fucking crazy job, but someone has to do it. Shoutout to this guy for sharing his stories!

I grew up around a funeral home, my dad owned it and was also a coroner. I’ve seen a lot. It desensitizes you, but also makes you grateful to be alive. Things people do to each other you wouldn’t believe

My hope is that one day all the workers in this field will have access to free crisis/trauma counseling. They need to get it out in a healthy way. They’re braver than I’ll ever be

I found a dead body once. I agree with the smell being indescribable. There is nothing quite like dead human stench in my opinion. I called the police and helped them locate the body. The saddest part was talking to the victims dad. He was crying intensely on the phone telling me he was so grateful that his child is no longer missing, but found. Definitely changed my life forever. Life is so fragile.

Ever since I learned about the darkest professions that were out there as a kid, I've had compassion, respect and gratitude for those who exercise them. Not a month go by without thinking about them.

I'm an exterminator and work in high crime areas I have personally found 56 bodies in many states of decomp and many different deaths but out of 56 at least 30 were murdered the worst I seen was a person who was eviscerated that was kinda shocking. Suicide in bathtubs is also nasty its a tub of human soup and it smells horrible.

I study forensic psychology and every pathologist I've ever met has a cracking sense of humour, I suppose you would have to or you would go mad/depressed.

I recently retired after 17 plus years as a deputy coroner. After doing hundreds of scene investigations and being involved in as many autopsies, I can say it does gradually change you over the years. Since most people never see what I have seen or have done what I have had to do there really isn't anyone to talk to who "gets it". Definitely a difficult job at times, but looking back I'm glad I was able to help so many people over the years.