Life moves fast on the Treasure Coast, but when the news cycle slows down, the reality of loss stays heavy for local families. Honestly, keeping track of recent deaths in St. Lucie County isn't just about reading a list of names. It’s about the neighbors we saw at the Publix on US-1 or the people who built the very foundations of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie.
This week has been particularly tough. We’ve seen a surge in notices from local funeral homes like Yates and Haisley, ranging from long-time community pillars to sudden, tragic losses that have left the police department searching for answers.
The Names We are Remembering Right Now
If you’ve been looking at the obituaries lately, a few names really stand out because of how deep their roots were here. Take Paul Edward Jacquin, who passed away on January 14, 2026. He was born right at the old Fort Pierce Hospital on 7th Street back in '46. That’s a lifetime of watching this county change from a sleepy citrus hub to what it is today.
Then there’s Linda Fay Grissom and Bart Signorelli, both recently added to the local registries. You’ve also got Sherrie Christine Soto, who was only 55 when she passed on January 6. It’s those younger ages that really make you stop and think.
The volume of notices can be overwhelming. Just between January 12th and January 15th, the county recorded dozens of passings.
- Thomas W. Irish (78) of Port St. Lucie.
- Phyllis M. Savoie (94), a reminder of the incredible longevity some of our residents achieve.
- Vincent Nels Sabine (79).
- Maureen Evans Ahern.
It’s a lot to process. Every name represents a seat empty at a dinner table tonight in Tradition or Lakewood Park.
Unsolved Investigations and Public Safety
Not every death in the county is a peaceful passing at home. Some have sparked active police scenes that had people talking on Facebook and Nextdoor for days.
Back in November 2025, there was a unsettling discovery when two guys fishing under the Twin Bridges on SE Port St. Lucie Blvd spotted a body floating in the river. The PSLPD Marine Unit had to pull the man out, and for a while, nobody knew who he was. Forensic teams eventually had to use dental records and fingerprints just to put a name to the face.
And that wasn't an isolated thing. Around the same time, the Sheriff’s Office started a homicide investigation after a body was found in the Taylor Creek Spillway. These kinds of "recent deaths" hit different. They aren't just sad; they’re a jolt to our sense of safety. While the Medical Examiner’s Commission has actually noted a slight decrease in drug-related deaths across Florida recently, the local reality of crime and accidents still keeps investigators busy.
Navigating the Records (The "How-To" Part)
If you're looking for a specific person, you basically have three main routes in St. Lucie County.
First, the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County handles the official death certificates. If you’re a family member needing one for legal reasons, you’ll likely end up at their office on Milner Drive in Port St. Lucie or the Fort Pierce location. They use the VitalChek system for online orders, which is usually faster than mailing a paper form.
Second, the funeral homes are the keepers of the stories. Yates Funeral Home, Haisley, and Aycock at Tradition are where most local obituaries live. Honestly, their websites are often more up-to-date than the newspapers these days.
Third, if the death was unattended or suspicious, the District 19 Medical Examiner (which covers St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee) is the one doing the heavy lifting. They’re the ones who determine the "why" when the "how" isn't clear.
Why the Data Matters for the Living
Looking at the trends of recent deaths in St. Lucie County, you start to see the bigger picture of our community health. We have a massive veteran population here. In fact, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs just released their 2026 benefits guide because they know how many of our aging residents are former service members who need specific end-of-life care and honors.
We also see a lot of "snowbird" deaths—people who lived most of their lives in New York or New Jersey but chose to spend their final chapters in the Florida sun. You’ll see that reflected in the obituaries constantly: "Born in Brooklyn, moved to Port St. Lucie in 1998."
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Practical Steps If You are Dealing with a Loss
If you find yourself responsible for handling a recent death here, don't try to do it all at once. It's a mess of paperwork.
- Secure the property: If they lived alone, this is the first thing the local police will tell you.
- Contact the Social Security Administration: They need to be notified immediately to stop payments and prevent fraud.
- Get at least 10 copies of the death certificate: You think you won't need that many, but between banks, the DMV, and life insurance, they disappear fast.
- Check for a "Letter of Instruction": Often, residents here have their funeral plans pre-arranged with local chapels to save their kids the stress.
Loss is a constant, but in a place like St. Lucie County, the community tends to show up. Whether it's a meal train in St. Lucie West or a memorial service at a local church, people here don't usually have to walk through it alone.
To stay truly informed, check the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office active calls for real-time updates on investigations, or visit the District 19 Medical Examiner's portal for annual statistical reports on mortality trends in the area. These resources provide the most direct, unfiltered data available to the public.