A New Jersey family is suing a Camden funeral home, claiming it made a shocking mistake by dressing another person’s body in their deceased relative’s clothing. Addison Jenkins, who had planned his own funeral, passed away in February 2023, but his family says they found someone else in his place at the viewing.
According to the family, they visited Boyd Funeral Home on Feb. 17 to inspect the casket before the public service. To their distress, they claim they found a stranger dressed in Jenkins’ clothes and jewelry. They filed a complaint on Sept. 5, describing their reaction as “shocked, upset, confused and full of tears.”
The family alleges that their attempts to express concerns were hindered because the funeral director wasn’t available. Instead, a makeup artist reassured them that the body was Jenkins, leading to a tense exchange between the family and funeral staff. Further attempts to verify the body’s identity through photographs left the family unsatisfied, as distinctive features like a cauliflower ear and a known foot infection were absent.
The next day, the family asked to open the casket again, and they were finally able to confirm it was indeed Jenkins. Attorney Michael Shaw, representing the family, criticized the funeral home’s reaction, calling it “inhumane” to insist that the mistaken body was Jenkins’.
The family is seeking damages through a jury trial, arguing that the funeral home’s alleged negligence caused emotional distress during an already painful time.