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A WIDOW has been left horrified after she found a stranger’s corpse in her late husband’s clothes and casket at his funeral.
The family of Addison Jenkins, who died in 2023, grew even more devastated when the funeral home allegedly tried to convince them that it was their loved one in the casket.
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Jenkins’ family has now filed a lawsuit against Boyd Funeral Home in Camden, New Jersey, accusing the company of negligence in handling human remains and infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint obtained by People, Jenkins’ family made arrangements with the funeral home that included a viewing followed by cremation in February 2023.
Days before the viewing, Jenkins’ widow brought clothes and personal items belonging to her late husband to the funeral home to prepare for his viewing, the complaint said.
The Jenkins family came to see their loved one’s body a day before the viewing in order to say goodbye – but was surprised to find a body they didn’t recognize in the casket.
“Plaintiffs 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 alleged.
“The Plaintiffs were shocked, upset, confused and full of tears.”
The complaint says the family confronted an employee at the funeral home, who allegedly showed them messages from the funeral director saying that the body was Jenkins.
The family said a makeup artist from the funeral home assured the family that it was Jenkins’ body in the casket.
The complaint alleges that the family and the funeral home employees “continued to disagree with each other as to whose body was in the casket.”
The family said that Jenkins had a cauliflower ear and an infection on his feet that were both missing from the unknown body.
“As a result of the above, Plaintiffs have become emotional distraught,” the complaint said.
“The Plaintiffs have been denied their right to grieve the death of their late loved one and, further, have been found to endure severe and ongoing emotional distress.”
On the day of the viewing, the family confirmed that the body in the casket was Jenkins after they asked the funeral director to allow them to see his body and feet.
The complaint revealed the family is demanding a trial by jury and seeking compensation in the case.
Statement from the family’s attorney
Michael Shaw, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, shared the following statement with People on October 22:
“What happened to the Jenkins family and their late loved one, Addison Jenkins, is disturbing and reprehensible,” Shaw said, according to People.
“To twist the knife, once the Jenkins family informed the funeral home of the wrongful conduct, the callous response was to point blame at my clients by persistently telling them that the wrong and unidentified body was their late loved one.
“Gaslighting a grieving family after displaying the wrong corpse is cruel and ignoble.”
Michael Shaw, an attorney representing the family, told People that what the family experienced is “disturbing and reprehensible.”
“Gaslighting a grieving family after displaying the wrong corpse is cruel and ignoble,” Shaw said.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Shaw for comment.
ANOTHER COMPANY TAKES RESPONSIBILITY
Boyd Funeral Homes told The U.S. Sun the funeral home isn’t responsible for the mishap and that the allegations have damaged their business.
Asia Atkins, the home’s funeral director, said that Boyd Funeral Homes worked with an independent contractor at the time called Funeral Home Services LLC.
Funeral Home Services LLC’s full statement
Asia Atkins, the funeral director of Boyd Funeral Homes, shared the following statement from Funeral Home Services LLC with The U.S. Sun.
“Since 2016, Funeral Home Services LLC has proudly partnered with Boyd Funeral Home as a removal and transportation company,” the statement, signed by the company’s board, staff members, and CEO Richard Lawson said.
“It is with a heavy heart that we address the recent negative exposure surrounding Boyd Funeral Home, a respected institution that has served the Tri-State area for 30 years with unparalleled professionalism and care.
“As the Board Members and Staff of Funeral Home Services LLC, we take full responsibility for the unfortunate
mishap involving the services for Addison Jenkins.
“We sincerely apologize to the Jenkins family, as well as to
Asia Atkins and the entire team at Boyd Funeral Home.
“This incident has prompted us to reevaluate our processes to ensure the highest standards of service for our clients and their families.
“In response, we have implemented a comprehensive five-step process map to enhance our identification protocols and prevent such occurrences in the future.
“While we cannot change the past, we stand firmly behind Boyd Funeral Home and their stellar reputation.
“This situation reflects on us, and we are committed to restoring trust and confidence in our services. Thank you for your understanding.
“Sincerely,
Funeral Home Services LLC Board Members and Staff.”
Funeral Home Services has taken full responsibility for the incident, according to a statement shared by Atkins with The U.S. Sun.
“As the Board Members and Staff of Funeral Home Services LLC, we take full responsibility for the unfortunate mishap involving the services for Addison Jenkins,” a statement signed by the company’s CEO, Richard Lawson, said.
“We sincerely apologize to the Jenkins family, as well as to
Asia Atkins and the entire team at Boyd Funeral Home.”
The statement continued, “While we cannot change the past, we stand firmly behind Boyd Funeral Home and their stellar reputation.
“This situation reflects on us, and we are committed to restoring trust and confidence in our services. Thank you for your understanding.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Funeral Home Services LLC for comment.
