Bio Recovery is an American company that handles crime scene and bio-hazard cleanups. The company assisted in the clean-up of the apartment of Craig Spencer, who worked with Doctors Without Borders, when he contracted Ebola, as well as a bowling alley he visited in New York.[1]
 | |
| Industry | Bio-hazard and Crime scene cleanup |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Ron Gospodarski |
| Website | www |
History
editRon Gospodarski founded Bio Recovery Corporation in 1998[2] out of his apartment.[3][4] Previously, he was a volunteer paramedic,[5] and worked as operations manager in a Queens district attorney's office for six years.[6][7] After Ron Gospodarski died, the company was inherited by his sister, Fran Gospodarski, who later sold off the company to a local competitor, All Island Bio Recovery and Restoration, located in Ronkonkoma, New York.
Work
editBio Recovery has cleaned accidents, suicide and homicide scenes, hoarding situations, anthrax outbreaks, sewage overflow, and other bio-hazard situations.[2][8] A cleanup requires personal protective gear including a Hazmat suit or single-use non-porous suits, double-filter respirators and chemical spill boots.[9][10][11]
Bio Recovery worked on the 2000 Wendy's massacre in Flushing, Queens where five employees were killed during a robbery orchestrated by a manager and former employee.[2][12] The cleanup took 65 certified technicians and two weeks to finish.[2] The company also handled the crime scene clean for the triple murder above the Carnegie Deli in Manhattan.[3][5] In 2001, Mayor Rudy Giuliani hired Bio Recovery to remove anthrax from several New York buildings.[13][14][15] The company also cleaned anthrax from the ABC-TV headquarters.[16] In 2003, the Regal Princess, a cruise ship struck by the Norwalk virus, was handled by Gospodarski and his team.[3][4][17]
The company worked on the beating of Glenn Moore by Nicholas "Fat Nick" Minucci in June 2005 and the murder of ex-cop Raymond Sheehan in February 2008. In January 2009, it worked on a home in Springfield Gardens, Queens when Vivian Squires, 86, was attacked by an intruder who she tried to fight off.[2] The company has also worked for large corporations including Marriott Hotels, Burger King, and CVS Pharmacies.[11]
Alec Baldwin “Rust” Shooting Incident Cleanup
editIn 2021, Bio Recovery was contracted to manage the cleanup of the set of the film Rust following the accidental shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.[18]
Hiring During the Pandemic
editDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Bio Recovery distinguished itself by ramping up its hiring efforts at a time when many companies were downsizing or halting operations. As the demand for specialized cleaning services surged due to heightened concerns over biohazard contamination, Bio Recovery responded by expanding its workforce.[19][20]
The Soul Mediators (Social Media)
editIn 2023, Bio Recovery's social media presence gained attention through the TikTok account "The Soul Mediators." This account, managed by Bio Recovery's team, showcases the intricacies and challenges of crime scene cleanup, offering a glimpse into the profession. The TikTok account has been featured in several media outlets, including A&E's Real Crime, New York Post, and Business Insider, highlighting its role in demystifying the field of biohazard remediation.[21][22][23]
Ebola cleanup
editIn October 2014, Bio Recovery worked to decontaminate the apartment in Harlem that belonged to Dr. Craig Spencer, a doctor at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital who worked with Doctors Without Borders to treat Ebola. The doctor contracted Ebola, and the company was responsible for cleaning his apartment.[14] The company also cleaned Gutter, a bowling alley Spencer had visited.[13][24] The state department of Health and Mental Hygiene checked on Bio-Recovery's work after it was done, the spokesman said, "and found the cleanup was successfully performed and executed"
Controversy later erupted after it was reported that the company's chief safety officer, Sal Pane, had a history of fraud accusations and had misled the city about his experience with bio-hazardous cleanups.[25]
Following the Ebola cleanup in New York City, revelations slowly trickled out revealing a pattern of Controversy from the company. Documents released months after the cleanup, including emails with city officials, revealed that the company claimed to have had training it didn't have at the time of the cleanup.[26] Following media investigations into the company, claims of certifications were taken down from the company's website.[27] The company also claimed to be working for the United States Army, which was denied by the Department of Defense and army medical officials.[28]
References
edit- ^ Mueller, Benjamin (2014-10-27). "For Crew in New York, Ebola Virus Is Fought With Scrub Brushes and Cleanser". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- ^ a b c d e Lee Landor (March 26, 2009). "Queens' own crime-scene cleanup crew". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c Andrew Jacobs (November 22, 2005). "Cleaning Needed, in the Worst Way". New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Jodie Davis (September 27, 2005). "Clean Sweep". NFIB. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Robert Dominguez (March 10, 2009). "Behind the scenes as a crew takes on the city's dirtiest job". Daily News. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ Jake Mooney (January 27, 2008). "After the Tragedy, the Tidying Up". New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Mueller, Benjamin (1 November 2014). "For Man in Ebola Virus Cleanup, a History of Fraud". New York Times. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "13 Secrets of Crime Scene Cleaners". 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ^ "Sales of $1,500 Hazmat Suits Surge on Ebola Fears". Fox Business. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ Jeanne Sahadi (April 15, 2005). "Six-figure jobs: Crime-scene cleaner". CNN. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Sebastian Montalvo Gray (May 16, 2014). "How to Clean Up a Crime Scene". Vocativ. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Gabriel Falcon (January 12, 2012). "Crime scene cleanup business 'is not a job for everyone'". CNN. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Benjamin Mueller.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ a b Laura Davison; Sonali Basak; Madeline McMahon (October 24, 2014). "Bio-Recovery Leads Cleanup of Ebola Spaces in New York". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ "The Staying Power of Anthrax". ABC. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Linda Trischitta (January 28, 2008). "Business is cleaning up". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Evan Perez (November 19, 2002). "A Nasty Stomach Virus Repeatedly Sails on Liner". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ "The art of making crime scenes livable again". newsnationnow.com.
- ^ "How COVID-19 is impacting summer hiring". Monster.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Newsday, Sheryl Nance-NashSpecial to (2020-08-12). "Money Fix: Opportunities to make extra money during the pandemic". Newsday. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Kettler, Sara. "What's It Like to Clean Up Crime Scenes? Two Pros Use Social Media to Document Their Jobs". A&E. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Keller, Erin (2023-05-15). "We are crime scene cleaners — here are the most gruesome things we've seen". Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Hart, Jordan. "A pair of Florida crime scene cleaners handle everything from blood to feces with a smile, documenting their long days to millions of fans on TikTok". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Seana Smith (October 28, 2014). "Ebola Fears Cost NYC Businesses $70K, and Counting". FOX. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Mosendz, Polly (17 November 2014). "Report Uncovers More Questions About NYC Ebola Cleaning Company". Newsweek. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "Documents Suggest Ebola Con Man's Cleanup Firm Claimed Training It Didn't Have". BuzzFeed.
- ^ "Ebola Cleanup Company Removes "Certifications" From Website After BuzzFeed News Investigation". BuzzFeed.
- ^ "Con Man Falsely Claimed That Ebola Cleanup Firm Was Working With The Army". BuzzFeed.