A family in the US is heartbroken after discovering the wrong body dressed in their loved one’s clothes in the casket.
A family in New Jersey is heartbroken after a mix-up at a funeral home.
They discovered that the body in their loved one’s casket was not his. Instead, it was another man dressed in his clothes.
This shocking mistake has led the family to take legal action against the funeral home.
Family shocked to find wrong dead person placed in their loved one’s casket
Addison Jenkins, an 81-year-old man, passed away in February 2023.
His family began making arrangements for his funeral. They wanted to honor him and say their goodbyes.
However, when his widow and children arrived at the funeral home for a viewing, they were met with a terrifying surprise.
Upon approaching the casket, they saw a man they did not recognize.
This man was dressed in Addison’s clothes, which added to their confusion and grief.
They alerted the funeral home to clarify the mix-up
The family immediately alerted the staff at Boyd Funeral Home about the situation.
They were told that everything was fine and that the body was indeed Addison’s.
Despite their distress, they were reassured that the body was theirs. However, they had strong doubts. They pointed out that the body did not resemble Addison at all.
For example, they noted that Addison had a “cauliflower ear” from past injuries, which was not present on the body they saw.
Additionally, he had a foot infection that should have been visible.
The family was understandably upset by the situation. They felt ignored and gaslighted by the funeral home staff.
A day before the public viewing, they insisted on checking the casket again. This time, they found the correct body of Addison Jenkins.
The mix-up had caused significant emotional distress for the family.
Family sues funeral home for dressing wrong dead person and placing it in their loved one’s casket
After discovering the truth, the Jenkins family decided to take legal action.
They filed a lawsuit against Boyd Funeral Home in the New Jersey Superior Court.
In their complaint, they described the emotional pain they experienced during this ordeal. They expressed feelings of shock, confusion, and deep sadness.
“At or around 4pm on February 17th, plaintiffs [the Jenkins family] approached the casket supposedly holding Addison and became immediately distressed and angered when they saw another unrecognizable corpse dressed in Addison’s clothes and belongings,” the complaint alleges.
“The Plaintiffs were shocked, upset, confused, and full of tears.”
Michael Shaw, the attorney representing the family, stated that the treatment they received was unacceptable.
He emphasized that the funeral home’s response to their concerns was callous and inappropriate.
Instead of addressing the family’s worries, the staff insisted that the wrong body was indeed Addison’s.
“What happened to the Jenkins family and their late loved one, Addison Jenkins is disturbing and reprehensible,” Michael Shaw, the attorney representing the family, said.
The lawsuit claims that the family suffered “severe emotional distress” due to the funeral home’s actions.
They are seeking compensation and a trial by jury to hold the funeral home accountable for their mistakes.
The family believes that no one should have to endure such a distressing experience while trying to say goodbye to a loved one.
As of now, Boyd Funeral Home has not publicly commented on the situation.