Exclusive: Suffolk County releases remains of musician who died in fire after family contacts News 12 for help
Nearly a month after a Suffolk woman died in a fire, her remains are finally being released by Suffolk County back to her family after the victim’s brother contacted News 12 for help.
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Nearly a month after a Suffolk woman died in a fire, her remains are finally being released by Suffolk County back to her family after the victim’s brother contacted News 12 for help.
Sim Urivetzky died when an early morning fire broke out in a Bay Shore home she was visiting on Jan. 30.
Her brother, Gary Urivetzky, of Island Park, says he had not gotten answers from the Suffolk Medical Examiner’s Office about when her remains would be returned to the family.
"I'm just trying to get through this the best that I can,” he said.
Gary Urivetzky says he was initially told that the Suffolk medical examiner couldn't release her to them until they positively identified her.
He went in for a cheek swab on Feb. 4 to match his DNA with his sister's.
"They advised me that there's a backlog of these cases in Suffolk County and that it could be several weeks before they get the results back from their lab,” he said.
Susan Klein, of Deer Park, met Sim Urivetzky almost a decade ago through the music community on the island.
Klein says she hates thinking of the fact that she still has not been laid to rest.
"She's on a cold slab in Suffolk County and in the Jewish religion, you bury the next day,” said Klein.
After not hearing anything for weeks, they contacted News 12.
Within hours of speaking with a Suffolk County spokesperson, the spokesperson told News 12 Sim Urivetzky had already been identified, but no one notified the family.
News 12 asked Suffolk County how this could happen.
In a statement to News 12 a spokesperson for the county said, “We are investigating how this error, which is extremely rare, occurred and will take the appropriate steps to ensure it does not happen again."
"Rest in peace means exactly that," said Klein. “Rest in peace doesn't mean hang out at the ME's office."
Gary Urivetzky says says he is now working with Suffolk County to have his sister's remains moved to a funeral home.
