thedrifter
04-27-09, 06:58 AM
Former Marines build unusual business
By Rick Spruill
Sunday, April 26, 2009
They handle the details no one else can or wants to handle.
In the wake of a violent crime, suicide or unattended death, cleaning up the physical details can be emotionally traumatic, if not impossible, for those left behind.
Enter Biotrauma, a company based in Gainvesville, Ga. with a mission to remove that burden from grieving families by providing crime scene cleaning and biohazard removal, usually within 24 hours of when an event takes place.
For Benjamin Lichntenwalner and Ryan Sawyer, ex-Marines who served together in Iraq before founding Biotrauma in 2006, dealing in the details of death is all in a day’s work.
“Our first client family came to us after a loved one overdosed and went several days before being found,” Lichtenwalner said. “The scene was not something the family was ready to address, so they contacted us, and we took care of it for them.”
The two men worked in mortuary affairs while deployed with the Marines in Iraq. They learned their craft conducting search and recovery missions to retrieve and prepare the remains of their fallen comrades for transport back to the United States.
Lichtenwaler said their search and recovery duties taught he and Sawyer how to tactfully and skillfully handle the type of situations they now face for their clients.
“In Iraq, we learned how to tread lightly in some pretty delicate situations involving a deceased soldier while still getting our jobs done,” Lichtenwaler said. “As a result, we try to let the families of the victims we serve dictate to us what their needs are.
“Some people want to talk about things; others do not. Usually, they are busy planning a funeral and (with) legal affairs of the deceased. It’s a whirlwind for them, and we spare them the mental stress of cleaning up the scene.”
Since it’s beginning, Lichtenwalner estimates that Biotrauma has provided services to between 200 and 300 families throughout the Southeastern United States, including many in South Carolina. The cost of the service, which ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the situation, is most often covered through homeowners insurance, Lichtenwalner said.
“We get calls from everyone — neighbors, church members, coroners, law enforcement and criminal investigators — following release of a scene,” he said. “We maintain a very close compatibility with law enforcement, because we are the last people to see evidence, and we find things all the time on crime scenes that can be helpful to their investigations.”
Marlene McClain, director of victim’s services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, said crime scene clean-up services offered by companies such as Biotrauma are “a godsend.”
“As someone who deals with the horror of suicide and traumatic crime, I’m very thankful to be able to tell families about this type of resource,” McClain said. “Losing a loved one is traumatic enough. Having physical reminders present makes it so much harder.”
With a staff of 10, including full-time and part-time employees, the only challenge in maintaining the headcount necessary to handle the business’ typical workload of two or three cases per week is employee turnover, Lichtenwalner said.
“Confronting death is a shocking experience,” he said. “We have a high turnover rate from people who can’t handle it. But, we teach our employees not to overanalyze — do your job, flip that switch. Plus, we never let technicians work scenes where they know someone involved.
“The satisfaction is in seeing the look on people’s faces when we leave. They are so relieved that someone has taken care of things for them.”
For more information about Biotrauma, visit www.biotrauma.com or call (866) Help-704.
Ellie
By Rick Spruill
Sunday, April 26, 2009
They handle the details no one else can or wants to handle.
In the wake of a violent crime, suicide or unattended death, cleaning up the physical details can be emotionally traumatic, if not impossible, for those left behind.
Enter Biotrauma, a company based in Gainvesville, Ga. with a mission to remove that burden from grieving families by providing crime scene cleaning and biohazard removal, usually within 24 hours of when an event takes place.
For Benjamin Lichntenwalner and Ryan Sawyer, ex-Marines who served together in Iraq before founding Biotrauma in 2006, dealing in the details of death is all in a day’s work.
“Our first client family came to us after a loved one overdosed and went several days before being found,” Lichtenwalner said. “The scene was not something the family was ready to address, so they contacted us, and we took care of it for them.”
The two men worked in mortuary affairs while deployed with the Marines in Iraq. They learned their craft conducting search and recovery missions to retrieve and prepare the remains of their fallen comrades for transport back to the United States.
Lichtenwaler said their search and recovery duties taught he and Sawyer how to tactfully and skillfully handle the type of situations they now face for their clients.
“In Iraq, we learned how to tread lightly in some pretty delicate situations involving a deceased soldier while still getting our jobs done,” Lichtenwaler said. “As a result, we try to let the families of the victims we serve dictate to us what their needs are.
“Some people want to talk about things; others do not. Usually, they are busy planning a funeral and (with) legal affairs of the deceased. It’s a whirlwind for them, and we spare them the mental stress of cleaning up the scene.”
Since it’s beginning, Lichtenwalner estimates that Biotrauma has provided services to between 200 and 300 families throughout the Southeastern United States, including many in South Carolina. The cost of the service, which ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the situation, is most often covered through homeowners insurance, Lichtenwalner said.
“We get calls from everyone — neighbors, church members, coroners, law enforcement and criminal investigators — following release of a scene,” he said. “We maintain a very close compatibility with law enforcement, because we are the last people to see evidence, and we find things all the time on crime scenes that can be helpful to their investigations.”
Marlene McClain, director of victim’s services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, said crime scene clean-up services offered by companies such as Biotrauma are “a godsend.”
“As someone who deals with the horror of suicide and traumatic crime, I’m very thankful to be able to tell families about this type of resource,” McClain said. “Losing a loved one is traumatic enough. Having physical reminders present makes it so much harder.”
With a staff of 10, including full-time and part-time employees, the only challenge in maintaining the headcount necessary to handle the business’ typical workload of two or three cases per week is employee turnover, Lichtenwalner said.
“Confronting death is a shocking experience,” he said. “We have a high turnover rate from people who can’t handle it. But, we teach our employees not to overanalyze — do your job, flip that switch. Plus, we never let technicians work scenes where they know someone involved.
“The satisfaction is in seeing the look on people’s faces when we leave. They are so relieved that someone has taken care of things for them.”
For more information about Biotrauma, visit www.biotrauma.com or call (866) Help-704.
Ellie