Help finding obituaries or details about a death

[stigs]

I realize this is a bit of an odd request but I'm running out of ideas. Also, I know I don't post much here on the forums; I do talk to some of you in private but that's another tale for another time, I guess.

Anyway, I'm trying to find out if there's a way to scan the internet for any possible obituaries or public records to find out if someone died. For "famous" people, it tends to be easy since that information is broadcasted all over but for the "non-famous", it gets a bit harder. What's worse is that I don't have a lot of personal info to help narrow things down. I have SOME which will help when I get some info to scan through but I still need the records first.

In case you're wondering what happened, I have an internet friend who has suddenly disappeared. I know that isn't much and any number of things could have happened (like they moved on or are ignoring me) but it just so happens that this person lives in the Dallas, TX, USA area right when there was major flooding recently, causing some deaths in the area. Last I checked, there were about 30 deaths reported from the Texas flooding but I can't find a list of WHO died, just the count. I'm pretty sure if I got a list of names and basic info, I could figure out if my friend is amongst them but whenever I search online, I just get the totals, not the list.

Any ideas? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

In google, type the name of the person and the city and state, that should get you a link to a local news paper site.

Or go to the local papers site and do a search there for you friends name.

 

[Learin]

I think this might help you if you know the exact name and his/her location:

http://www.vitalrecordsfinder.com/

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I think this might help you if you know the exact name and his/her location:

http://www.vitalrecordsfinder.com/

Too bad you have to pay to find out anything.

 

[oggbashan]

Too bad you have to pay to find out anything.

You usually have to for recent events. For historical family research you can make a start for free, but once you get seriously interested you will have to pay.

 

[ToysAreUs]

Stigs,

You can do free searches at tributes dot com

http://www.tributes.com/search/obit...city=&state=WA&search_type=All&dod=&keywords=

 

[fire_breeze]

I realize this is a bit of an odd request but I'm running out of ideas. Also, I know I don't post much here on the forums; I do talk to some of you in private but that's another tale for another time, I guess.

Anyway, I'm trying to find out if there's a way to scan the internet for any possible obituaries or public records to find out if someone died. For "famous" people, it tends to be easy since that information is broadcasted all over but for the "non-famous", it gets a bit harder. What's worse is that I don't have a lot of personal info to help narrow things down. I have SOME which will help when I get some info to scan through but I still need the records first.

In case you're wondering what happened, I have an internet friend who has suddenly disappeared. I know that isn't much and any number of things could have happened (like they moved on or are ignoring me) but it just so happens that this person lives in the Dallas, TX, USA area right when there was major flooding recently, causing some deaths in the area. Last I checked, there were about 30 deaths reported from the Texas flooding but I can't find a list of WHO died, just the count. I'm pretty sure if I got a list of names and basic info, I could figure out if my friend is amongst them but whenever I search online, I just get the totals, not the list.

Any ideas? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Often, after a tragic event, they will not release names until close family members are notified. In an event of a natural disaster, such as a flooding, the communication systems will be down, people are displaced and even physically getting to point A to point B would be difficult, so it might be weeks, if not more, before a list is released- if it's ever released.

Or, if your friend is in a flood zone, it's possible that access to internet is less than ideal and that their minds are preoccupied with pressing matters (such as keeping their homes safe, cleaning, and so forth), even though they themselves are safe.

I would suggest googling the person's name. It tends to yield results. Or, you may want to reach out to a relative of the individual through Facebook (you can simply say you're a long-time friend of X, heard of the flooding, is the person okay?).

Good luck and I really hope nothing happened to your friend

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Often, after a tragic event, they will not release names until close family members are notified. In an event of a natural disaster, such as a flooding, the communication systems will be down, people are displaced and even physically getting to point A to point B would be difficult, so it might be weeks, if not more, before a list is released- if it's ever released.

Or, if your friend is in a flood zone, it's possible that access to internet is less than ideal and that their minds are preoccupied with pressing matters (such as keeping their homes safe, cleaning, and so forth), even though they themselves are safe.

I would suggest googling the person's name. It tends to yield results. Or, you may want to reach out to a relative of the individual through Facebook (you can simply say you're a long-time friend of X, heard of the flooding, is the person okay?).

Good luck and I really hope nothing happened to your friend

The deaths in Texas happened three weeks ago, so for such a tragedy not all that recent.

Here's a link to the Dallas Morning New Obits. It's only for the last week. But you can do searches.

Here's another resource, Texasobits Online.

 

[Bramblethorn]

In case you're wondering what happened, I have an internet friend who has suddenly disappeared. I know that isn't much and any number of things could have happened (like they moved on or are ignoring me) but it just so happens that this person lives in the Dallas, TX, USA area right when there was major flooding recently, causing some deaths in the area. Last I checked, there were about 30 deaths reported from the Texas flooding but I can't find a list of WHO died, just the count. I'm pretty sure if I got a list of names and basic info, I could figure out if my friend is amongst them but whenever I search online, I just get the totals, not the list.

Call the local (to your friend) coroner/medical examiner's office. If they don't have the information themselves, they should at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Good luck, and hoping your friend's just lost internet with the flooding, or is too busy mopping up.

 

[Learin]

Too bad you have to pay to find out anything.

I didn't actually try searching with that thing. Sorry.


ETA: I just tried searching for a missing person called Xyz Csa, and they coughed up 32 results.

 

[stigs]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate it! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find them using the sites or tips; best I can hope for is that "no news is good news." One of the bad things about using new technology where tells you more info than you should probably know. Kik will let you know when someone's phone has been off for a while. Maybe they lost the old one during the flooding and got a new one but haven't loaded the app.

 

[tedsbeds]

I realize this is a bit of an odd request but I'm running out of ideas. Also, I know I don't post much here on the forums; I do talk to some of you in private but that's another tale for another time, I guess.

Anyway, I'm trying to find out if there's a way to scan the internet for any possible obituaries or public records to find out if someone died. For "famous" people, it tends to be easy since that information is broadcasted all over but for the "non-famous", it gets a bit harder. What's worse is that I don't have a lot of personal info to help narrow things down. I have SOME which will help when I get some info to scan through but I still need the records first.

In case you're wondering what happened, I have an internet friend who has suddenly disappeared. I know that isn't much and any number of things could have happened (like they moved on or are ignoring me) but it just so happens that this person lives in the Dallas, TX, USA area right when there was major flooding recently, causing some deaths in the area. Last I checked, there were about 30 deaths reported from the Texas flooding but I can't find a list of WHO died, just the count. I'm pretty sure if I got a list of names and basic info, I could figure out if my friend is amongst them but whenever I search online, I just get the totals, not the list.

Any ideas? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Google Obits in Dallas newspapers

 

[jsmiam]

The other responders are being considerate, kind, and sympathetic, and I admire them for it. And heck, give yourself a pat on the back too. You earned it.

To be fair though, somebody also needs to step forward and take the other path. When online friends vanish, it's ok to keep a little hope going for a week or two. We all do, even when we know deep inside that they chose to disappear. It happens every day. Let it go. The first Google search is ok. The second means you really cared. Third is starting to get embarrassing, and fourth and beyond and/or escalating the search is getting dangerously close to the weird and creepy zone.

Part yourself on the back for being a good person, but let it go and move on.

 

[twister947]

The other responders are being considerate, kind, and sympathetic, and I admire them for it. And heck, give yourself a pat on the back too. You earned it.

To be fair though, somebody also needs to step forward and take the other path. When online friends vanish, it's ok to keep a little hope going for a week or two. We all do, even when we know deep inside that they chose to disappear. It happens every day. Let it go. The first Google search is ok. The second means you really cared. Third is starting to get embarrassing, and fourth and beyond and/or escalating the search is getting dangerously close to the weird and creepy zone.

Part yourself on the back for being a good person, but let it go and move on.

This.

Sometimes, people don't want to be found, for whatever reason. Respect that.

 

[Everyday_Man]

I realize this is a bit of an odd request but I'm running out of ideas. Also, I know I don't post much here on the forums; I do talk to some of you in private but that's another tale for another time, I guess.

Anyway, I'm trying to find out if there's a way to scan the internet for any possible obituaries or public records to find out if someone died. For "famous" people, it tends to be easy since that information is broadcasted all over but for the "non-famous", it gets a bit harder. What's worse is that I don't have a lot of personal info to help narrow things down. I have SOME which will help when I get some info to scan through but I still need the records first.

In case you're wondering what happened, I have an internet friend who has suddenly disappeared. I know that isn't much and any number of things could have happened (like they moved on or are ignoring me) but it just so happens that this person lives in the Dallas, TX, USA area right when there was major flooding recently, causing some deaths in the area. Last I checked, there were about 30 deaths reported from the Texas flooding but I can't find a list of WHO died, just the count. I'm pretty sure if I got a list of names and basic info, I could figure out if my friend is amongst them but whenever I search online, I just get the totals, not the list.

Any ideas? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

You need a name, an age and a city or the very least, a region.

 

[Bramblethorn]

The other responders are being considerate, kind, and sympathetic, and I admire them for it. And heck, give yourself a pat on the back too. You earned it.

To be fair though, somebody also needs to step forward and take the other path. When online friends vanish, it's ok to keep a little hope going for a week or two. We all do, even when we know deep inside that they chose to disappear. It happens every day. Let it go. The first Google search is ok. The second means you really cared. Third is starting to get embarrassing, and fourth and beyond and/or escalating the search is getting dangerously close to the weird and creepy zone.

Part yourself on the back for being a good person, but let it go and move on.

Usually I'd agree with you - people have the right to break off a friendship without explanation. But in this particular circumstance it seems reasonable for the OP to want to know whether this person is still alive.

Unless there's some background they're not telling us, like their "friend" is an ex they're stalking or they're in witness protection, but if that's the case they're probably not going to care what we think about it.

 

[LadyVer]

A few years back I went looking for an old college suitemate. It took one google search to come up with her obituary. I was heartbroken.

A few months back I was wondering why a man I had been chatting with for a year just disappeared. We chatted frequently and I thought we would meet at some point. I eventually got an email from him, which basically said he didn't feel like talking to anyone, that his pc was broken, he had lost his phone, and he was now considering living without technology. He started the email with "by way of inadequate apology..." Yes, it was an inadequate apology. I was left with all kinds of thoughts going through my mind, before and after his last email. The bottom line is that if he had cared, I wouldn't have been left hanging for months wondering what the hell happened.

If someone doesn't have what it takes to continue a relationship on line or IRL, they are unavailable. Sure, they can hold a great conversation, frequently, but will they be there when you need them to be? Will they all of a sudden disappear without a word? If someone really cares, there will be proof. In other words, they won't go MIA and leave the other person hanging. If they're dead, their obit will show up in a google search. Unless they lied about their name.

 

[Bramblethorn]

A few years back I went looking for an old college suitemate. It took one google search to come up with her obituary. I was heartbroken.

A few months back I was wondering why a man I had been chatting with for a year just disappeared. We chatted frequently and I thought we would meet at some point. I eventually got an email from him, which basically said he didn't feel like talking to anyone, that his pc was broken, he had lost his phone, and he was now considering living without technology. He started the email with "by way of inadequate apology..." Yes, it was an inadequate apology. I was left with all kinds of thoughts going through my mind, before and after his last email. The bottom line is that if he had cared, I wouldn't have been left hanging for months wondering what the hell happened.

Long-distance ex of mine who I (mistakenly) considered a friend got her family to tell me she'd been killed in a car accident. After a couple of days I smelled a rat and started making enquiries, but it took me a week to find out the truth - she was alive and well, but her partner was jealous and didn't want her talking to me, and for some reason she'd decided that was easier than just telling me to piss off or stopping taking my calls.

She emailed me several years later to apologise, but went back to form pretty quickly. Still ranks as one of the most fucked-up things that's happened to me.

 

[LadyVer]

Long-distance ex of mine who I (mistakenly) considered a friend got her family to tell me she'd been killed in a car accident. After a couple of days I smelled a rat and started making enquiries, but it took me a week to find out the truth - she was alive and well, but her partner was jealous and didn't want her talking to me, and for some reason she'd decided that was easier than just telling me to piss off or stopping taking my calls.

She emailed me several years later to apologise, but went back to form pretty quickly. Still ranks as one of the most fucked-up things that's happened to me.

Geez. What a weasel. Can't be honest, and then add insult to injury by faking death.

 

[Emerson40]

Hey look!

It's LadyVer!

http://38.media.tumblr.com/2ed6e19aae9d6bf2c87ad47094aa39fb/tumblr_nojamyIl9d1rz4sfeo1_250.gif

Hi LadyVer!

 

[Tigersman]

Deaths

If you have their accurate name, then the Social Security Administration will show their date of death.

 

[LadyVer]

Hey look!

It's LadyVer!

http://38.media.tumblr.com/2ed6e19aae9d6bf2c87ad47094aa39fb/tumblr_nojamyIl9d1rz4sfeo1_250.gif

Hi LadyVer!

Hey Em! How are you? What's a good site to find some good Minnie avs? Ready for a change. xo