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Chicago Crime Scene Cleanup Handles Murder Scenes, Meth Labs, Hoarders

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Crime Scene Cleanup is a 5-year old company that specializes in cleaning up murder and death scenes, hoarder situations and meth labs that have been discovered by police.

As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, Dan Reynolds, president of the Minooka-based company, says cleaning up a crime scene is more complicated than one might think.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports

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"It's more than just a mop-up and bleach, which is what a lot of people think it is," Reynolds said. "There's certain disinfectants for different situations."

Reynolds' background led him to conclude that the service the company provides was needed.

"I'm a full-time firefighter, and a lot of times, when we get to some of the unfortunate scenes, we realize there's a need for people to, they need some help cleaning houses," Reynolds said. "It's not something that the family should have to deal with."

Just about all the employees are full- or part-time firefighters.

"Unfortunately, part of being a firefighter, you do deal with people who just found out that their loved ones have passed away, and having a great amount of compassion for them and understanding their situation is key," Reynolds said.

Despite the composition of its staff, the company does not clean up after fires. It handles hoarder situations, meth labs that have been discovered by police, and of course, murders and assaults.

Doesn't it seem kind of gruesome? Reynolds says the crews just have to deal with it.

"It is, and it can be, and you just have to put it out of your mind, and realize we're there to do a job, and we're there to start the cleaning process," Reynolds said.

Chicago Crime Scene Cleanup can be reached at (888) 571-0750, or through their Web site.

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