‘Fortune Finders’ TV show looks at what is left behind after death

When the dead don't plan for the end and leave behind their earthly possessions, John Cahill and his team makes sure they're safe.

The county's public administrator and his office are the subject of a new documentary television show called "Fortune Finders" to educate people about planning for life after death and what happens when that plan doesn't exist.

The pilot episode is slated to air at 10 p.m. Friday on the National Geographic channel, which is available on cable.

"It will bring people's attention to the inevitable reality that nobody gets out of this alive," Cahill said. "We all pass on. A small amount of planning can make it easier on your family."

About 1,000 people in the Las Vegas area die each year without next of kin, and Cahill's office must "piece together an entire life from its remnants, secure valuables, find a will (if there is one) and seek out heirs," according to the show's description.

Cahill, public administrator since 2007, and his investigators deal with everything from stacks of cash and gold coins to pets.

The county earned $6,000 for the first episode, which was shot from early December 2010 to the beginning of January 2011. If the channel wants more shows, the county will continue to earn that money for each episode aired.

"People die like they live sometimes," Cahill said. "Sometimes it's drama. Sometimes it's comedy. Sometimes it's interesting."

Field investigator Sara Schreiber is featured in a video on the channel's website as she drives along Fremont Street and the Strip while discussing the job.

"People who pass away on the Strip, a lot of times they're people overdosing, or they jump off buildings," Schreiber said. "Kind of spectacular ways to die, whereas with the local Nevadans you see a lot more natural deaths."

The recent college graduate who majored in photography heads to a call of a decomposing body in Boulder City.

"One aspect of this job is seeing people who have recently passed," Schreiber said. "Oftentimes when you're driving along and you see an accident scene and you crane your neck to see what happened, I don't have to do that. I get to go and see it and stare it right in the face if I want to."

A body bag is wheeled out on a gurney by representatives of the coroner's office clad from head to toe in protective gear. It has Schreiber, who is wearing a polo shirt and gloves, a bit concerned. She goes into the home anyway, searching for some sort of family information.

"It smells real bad," she said.

The camera cuts to a stained couch where it appears the person died.

Investigators get no formal training on conducting searches and develop their own techniques. Schreiber said she starts her searches in the bedroom.

Flies bother her during the search.

Another video clip shows a dead man's brother looking through boxes of his brother's belongings with Cahill. They discover a black binder held together with duct tape full of comic books. The relative takes the binder to a comic book store to price his brother's comics, which end up being worth $80,000 to $120,000.

Workaholic Productions Inc., an Encino, Calif.-based production company, crafted the show and has a contract with National Geographic. Chris Albert, senior vice president of communications for National Geographic, said the shows "give viewers accessibility to something they may not know much about."

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.