UPDATE: The Plaindealer learned Thursday that the coroner’s office has had someone come forward to help.

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Ouray County’s coroner is seeking help finding friends of a man who was estranged from his family and died at a Ouray hotel.

Quality Inn staff found William Curio Jr., who went by Billy, in his hotel room on Jan. 19. An autopsy is scheduled but his death is not considered to be suspicious, according to Coroner Glenn Boyd.

Boyd said he reached family members, but they want nothing to do with the case and will not claim the body. State law requires coroners to notify family members and allows a 10-day due diligence waiting period for families to claim remains. That deadline has now passed. Now, any friend of Curio’s can claim his remains and make arrangements.

Curio had worked at Corkscrew Tavern and Pizzeria, which recently closed, but he did not have a permanent address and was transient.

Boyd said this is the first time he has had to deal with this situation during his tenure with the coroner’s office.

If no one comes forward to take responsibility for Curio’s remains, state law requires the county to pay for burial or cremation. This process will require involving an appointed public administrator for the 21st Judicial District in Mesa County, since Ouray County and the Seventh Judicial District do not have their own, as well as the state anatomical board.

While larger counties handle unclaimed remains more often, Ouray County Attorney Leo Caselli called it a “complex legal process” that small counties don’t often handle.

Boyd asked those who knew Curio to contact him. “This is about dignity,” Boyd said. “We don’t know anyone that knows him, other than his family that didn’t talk to him.”

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Boyd at 970-325-7273, ext. 1, or via email at gboyd@ourayco.gov.