Fresno sheriff seeks relatives of man killed in crash
Sheriff-Coroner's Office seeks relatives of 49-year-old James Kyreacos, who died Jan. 6 in a traffic collision. Immediate family must be located before his body can be released.
Fresno County officials are asking the public for help in locating relatives of 49-year-old James Kyreacos, who died Jan. 6 as the result of a traffic collision. The Sheriff-Coroner's Office says staff have searched numerous personal records and identified that Kyreacos had a son, but attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.
Locating immediate family members is required before the Coroner’s Unit can release the body and allow for a proper burial, the office said. Until those family members are found and able to make arrangements, release and interment are on hold, a process that can delay closure for relatives and frustrate community efforts to offer support.
The request underscores how routine administrative requirements intersect with personal loss in Fresno neighborhoods. Coroner offices follow state and county protocols that prioritize next of kin notification and consent for release. When contact information is incomplete or relatives are out of state, overseas, or otherwise unreachable, the county must pause on returning remains, which in turn affects funeral planning, cultural rites, and the ability of loved ones to grieve together.
Fresno’s diverse communities place particular importance on timely burials and specific religious or cultural practices. The Sheriff-Coroner's Office is urging anyone who may know Kyreacos’ family, last known addresses, phone numbers, or other contact details to step forward so arrangements can proceed. Community members with information are asked to call the Coroner’s Unit at (559) 600-3400 or email coroner@fresnosheriff.org.
If you believe you have relevant details, have names, addresses, or dates of last contact ready when you call or email to help investigators confirm relationships quickly. Even small pieces of information can shorten the search and bring relief to those waiting for answers.
Our two cents? If you live in Fresno County and recognize the name or know someone who might, make the call. Helping connect a family with their loved one matters—sometimes it only takes one neighbor to close the circle and allow a community to grieve and move forward.
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