A public appeal has been issued by the Office of the Chief Health Inspector, calling on community members to assist in tracking down the relatives of two deceased men whose bodies are currently being held at Barnes Funeral Home without any claimants.
Authorities have confirmed the identities of the two men: Karl Lashley, who passed away on June 3, 2026, and Isaac Watson, who died three weeks later on June 24, 2026. The office is urging any immediate or extended family members of the deceased to reach out directly to Jessica Barnes, Managing Director of Barnes Funeral Home Limited. The funeral home is located at Irwing Barnes Close off American Road, and family members can contact the facility via phone at 462-1037 to begin coordinating private burial arrangements.
Per the official announcement, next of kin have a strict 14-day window from the date this notice is published to step forward and complete the required arrangements. If no contact is made or no plans are finalized within this two-week period, government authorities will move forward with interring the remains at a public cemetery, and no additional public notices will be issued before the burial takes place.
The Office of the Chief Health Inspector has also issued a clear warning that any legal claims to the remains will not be entertained after the government has completed the public interment. In closing, the office issued a gentle plea to any family members who may be connected to Lashley or Watson to respond to the notice in a timely manner and cooperate with the outlined process to give the deceased a respectful resting place aligned with family wishes.