Family Claims They Found an ‘Unrecognizable Corpse’ Wearing Their Loved One’s Clothes During Funeral Home Visit

Mar. 15, 2025

Boyd Funeral Home in Camden, New Jersey.Photo:Google Maps

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The family of a man who died in 2023 filed a lawsuit against a New Jersey funeral home, alleging that the wrong body was put in their loved one’s clothes and casket ahead of a public viewing.

On Feb. 15, Jenkins’s widow brought her late husband’s clothes and personal belongings to the funeral home in preparation for the services and final internment, the complaint read.

“At or around 4:00 p.m. on February 17th, 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 family said that the funeral director wasn’t present to address their concerns, according to the complaint. Rather, an employee allegedly showed them text messages from the director stating that the body was of Jenkins. A makeup artist from the funeral home assured the family that it was Jenkins’ body. But as alleged in the complaint, both the family and the funeral home employees “continued to disagree with each other as to whose body was in the casket."

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The complaint added that the funeral director sent photos to Jenkins’ family to demonstrate that it was their relative. However, the family disagreed, noting that Jenkins had a cauliflower ear while the other body didn’t. Additionally, the family said Jenkins had an infection on his feet that would have been noticeable.

On Feb. 18, 2023, the day of the viewing, Jenkins’ family asked the funeral director to open the casket to see his body and feet. This time, the family was able to confirm that it was Jenkins in the casket.

“As a result of the above,” the complaint read, “Plaintiffs have become emotional distraught. 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.”

In the complaint, Jenkins’ family said that as a result of Boyd Funeral Homes allegedly “negligent acts and omissions,” they have “suffered and continue to suffer severe emotional distress and damages.” It also accused the funeral home of “failing to use the accepted degree of professional skill as others in the same profession(s) and communities, constituting negligence and causing the infliction of severe emotional distress on the Plaintfifs."

PEOPLE contacted Boyd Funeral Home for comment on Oct. 22.

source: people.com