A family in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Boyd Funeral Home after a devastating mistake that added to their grief. They claim the funeral home presented the wrong body during a viewing, dressed in their late father’s clothes, and then insisted the body was his.

The lawsuit, filed in September, centers around the tragic mix-up involving Addison Jenkins, who passed away in February 2023 at the age of 81. His family alleges the funeral home was negligent when they placed another person’s body in his clothing and personal belongings. Despite their protests, employees assured the family that the body was indeed Jenkins.

“Our law firm is eager for the wrongdoers to respond to the Complaint,” said attorney Michael Shaw of Eichen, Crutchlow, Zaslow, LLP, who represents the Jenkins family. “We look forward to the discovery phase, which we believe will bring all the facts to light and provide answers to many of the questions the family has. They deserve the right to properly grieve their loss.”

The heartbreaking situation began on February 11, 2023, when Addison Jenkins passed away. The family made arrangements with Boyd Funeral Home for a private viewing on February 18, followed by cremation. A few days prior to the service, Dorothy Jenkins, Addison’s widow, brought his clothes and personal items to the funeral home.

When the family arrived for the private viewing on February 17, they were shocked and devastated to find an unrecognizable body in the casket, wearing Addison’s clothes. According to court documents, the family was “shocked, upset, confused, and full of tears” as they realized the body before them wasn’t their beloved Addison.

Despite their protests and pointing out distinct features of Addison, such as a cauliflower ear and an infection on his feet—both missing from the body in the casket—the funeral home staff continued to insist the body was his. Text messages from the funeral director and even the makeup artist supported the claim that it was indeed Addison’s body, court documents allege.

The family’s distress continued as they were unable to get clear answers from the funeral home, further deepening their emotional pain. Boyd Funeral Home has not yet responded to requests for comment, and the amount the family is seeking in damages for emotional distress and mishandling of human remains has not been disclosed.

The Jenkins family, through their legal team, is determined to uncover the truth and ensure they receive the closure they deserve after such a painful ordeal.