How to find next of kin?

Asked by raum (13208) January 10th, 2024 from iPhone

My niece was friends with an unhoused man. She had been looking for him the past week to check up on him. Later on, she saw that someone had lit a candle where he usually sleeps with a sign that read “RIP Willie”. She was incredibly distraught when she found out. :(

I called Police Non-Emergency Line multiple times, but kept getting a busy signal. I called 211 to ask for suggestions on where to start. They gave me the number for Mobile Outreach and County Coroner’s Office.

Mobile Outreach said they were unable to share any information with me, even if they had any.

Unfortunately, the county coroner’s office had a match to the description that I gave them.

His name was Willie. She hadn’t seen him since the week before. Black man around 5‘10 or so, probably 60s, lean. Usually slept under the 580 underpass near Market St.

They had someone that matched his description and location. He had passed away on the sixth of January. Cause of death undetermined. :(

The deputy spoke with me. They’re trying to find next of kin. My niece said he had mentioned that his wife had passed away. But doesn’t remember him mentioning other family.

I’m hoping to help find next of kin. So that someone will claim the remains and hopefully have a memorial service. He was loved and will be missed by a lot of people in the neighborhood. Hoping they could share lots of wonderful stories they have of him with his next of kin to help find closure.

Deputy gave me a last name, Scoggins. Been Verified and Truth Finder both seem kind of sketch. I’ve DM’d some random people on Facebook. Everyone that’s replied so far has been a dead end.

Any suggestions?