Declared 'Dead,' But Very Much Alive

Tyler Chase, at just 22, was trying to find a new job after significant life upheavals but instead discovered he was "dead." Chase, very much alive and breathing, found out he was officially deceased, complete with a death certificate.

The entire story began about a year ago when Chase’s family received the news of his supposed death. Chase had struggled with drug addiction for many years, and his family was told he died from an overdose.

Having lost his mother the previous year, he lived on the streets, grappling with severe addiction, and ultimately found his way to a temporary rehabilitation center after being arrested. He spent several months in rehab, and one day, when visiting a grocery store to use food vouchers, he discovered his credit card was inactive. After sobering up from rehab and eager to rebuild his life, he decided to look for a job, only to realize he was officially considered dead.

In an interview with the New York Times, he mentioned reaching out to authorities to understand why he couldn’t access his entitled benefits. He was informed that a death certificate had been filed in his name, which led him to continue his inquiry with the Portland Police Department.

The police officer was equally stunned to see someone declared dead show up at the station seeking information about himself. It later emerged that a man who was with Chase at the rehab center died of drugs while holding Chase’s wallet. The deceased man’s ID bore Chase’s name, but the photograph didn’t match the deceased.

Since this unusual incident, Chase has successfully found a job where he helps the homeless. A spokesman for Multnomah County expressed regret over the chain of events, stating that "everything happened because the deceased carried Mr. Tyler Chase’s wallet and temporary Oregon driver’s license. From now on, all individuals found with temporarily-issued state identifications must submit fingerprints for verification to ensure this doesn’t happen again."