Government shutdown delays burial of unclaimed man

The unclaimed remains of a man who died earlier this month finally will be buried after the federal government shutdown caused a delay in the process.

The (Riverton) Ranger reports Fremont County Coroner Mark Stratmoen says the shutdown made it difficult to determine whether the deceased – 61-year-old Richard Arthur Robinson – was a veteran.

Robinson died Jan. 7. The man’s veteran status determines where he is laid to rest.

The unclaimed remains of honorably discharged veterans are buried at the Wyoming Veterans Cemetery in Casper, while others are interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.

Stratmoen said Tuesday that Robinson was not a veteran “as far as we know.” He says there have been “some issues with verifications of federal things due to the government shutdown.”

He has decided to move forward with the burial regardless.