Fountain Valley is a beautiful suburban community in Orange County, California. With a population of 55,313 as of the 2010 census, Fountain Valley is perhaps smaller than many communities in the Orange County area. But, there is no lack of community spirit or things to do, and residents often hail Fountain Valley as one of the best places to live. 

Mile Square Regional Park is a 640 acre park with two lakes, an expansive golf course and a nature reserve with California-native plants. Fountain Valley is also within close proximity of Huntington State Beach and Huntington Pier if you’re looking to get away to a sand-white beach and great water sports. In the coming years, Fountain Valley is expected to grow exponentially as more and more people migrate out of bigger cities like Los Angeles and into smaller, family-friendly suburbs. But unfortunately, in 1979, Fountain Valley became known for something far more sinister. A crime occurred that would not only shake the small residential community, but forever be remembered throughout the entire United States.

Joan Anderson was a 28-year-old woman and young mother of two living in Fountain Valley in 1979. She was well-liked and respected in the small community and loved raising a family there. Unfortunately, on March 8, while her husband was away on a business trip, William Evins broke into the home and attacked Anderson. The crime scene was particularly brutal, as Anderson had been raped and murdered with a hammer. It also spanned over several rooms in the home, as Anderson tried to flee her killer. Luckily, the two children who were also in the home at the same time, were unharmed. In 2018, Evins attempted to overturn his conviction by asserting the murder was actually the work of the Golden State Killer, who had terrorized nearby residential areas during the same time period. But ultimately, retested DNA evidence confirmed it had been Evins at the crime scene, and the ruling stood. 

Fortunately, Anderson’s murder was not followed by many others and total crime rates in Fountain Valley remain relatively low. More safety measures are being put in place as the population grows. Still, because crime can happen anywhere and to anyone, there is an increased need for crime scene cleanup in cities like Fountain Valley, California.

What Is a Crime Scene?

A crime scene is typically defined as a tangible location where an illegal offense has been committed. A crime scene can be limited to one room in a residential home, or even span the entirety of a park or public street, depending on the extent of the crime. Once a crime scene is discovered, it falls under law enforcement control immediately and is sealed off to the public. Unfortunately, there is no specific time limit for when the crime scene investigation must be completed. If you are waiting to be let back into the residence where a crime scene occurred, you will need to hear back from law enforcement or the coroner’s office officially first. Although this waiting does delay the cleanup process, it also allows for law enforcement to properly and thoroughly collect all evidence present and accurately analyze the situation without public interference.

Cleaning up a Crime Scene

Discovering a crime scene is a truly horrific experience for anyone, and can have a lasting, traumatic effect on the deceased person’s loved ones. In order to begin the investigation and start the healing process, the crime scene must be cleaned. Though most people presume that law enforcement handles this task, unfortunately this is usually not the case, and cleanup responsibilities get transferred to residents or loved ones. It is not advised for any one individual to begin cleaning on their own, as many biohazard materials may be left on the scene. The cleanup process should be left to a professional, experienced company with the proper knowledge, materials and care to enact the job correctly. The company should also be registered with the state of California, as it is otherwise illegal to operate.

As a first step, a crime scene cleanup company will arrive with the right personal protective equipment, or PPE. PPE includes gloves, goggles and proper mouth protection, like a mask or respirator. The company will then begin a series of four steps: cleaning, sanitization, deodorization and restoration. Cleaning involves a thorough sweep of all blood and biological materials present, which must be eliminated immediately for health and safety concerns. Sanitization includes using medical grade sanitization chemicals to eliminate blood-borne pathogens that may not be seen to the naked eye. Deodorization will be enacted in the case that a body remained at a crime scene for several days before its eventual discovery. Lastly, the company will restore the area back to its original condition as closely as possible. This will return the area to a livable space and also help the extensive healing process to begin. Above all, a professional crime scene cleanup company should act with sensitivity and care through what is an extremely difficult grieving process for family members.

Paying for Crime Scene Cleanup

There are several costs associated with cleaning up a crime scene that vary according to the extent of the task. If a crime was particularly violent or spread out across multiple rooms, it may take longer to clean and require stronger materials. The average rate for a one-room crime scene cleanup usually ranges from $1000 to $2500, but Eco Bear is committed to providing the most comprehensive crime scene cleanup at a reasonable rate. Eco Bear’s rates are $250 per hour, per technician. There is a charge of $250 for each red biohazard waste bin needed for a particular cleanup.