Family wins $8m lawsuit after funeral home loses daughter's body

  • 15/02/2018
Family wins $8m lawsuit after funeral home loses daughter's body
Photo credit: KSAT/ screenshot

A family have been awarded US$8 million (NZ$11 million) after a funeral home lost their daughter's body in the US. 

Mission Park Funeral Homes in Texas was accused of gross negligence when the body of 25-year-old Julie Mott vanished in August 2015 after her funeral.

She died after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis and her body went missing while she was awaiting transfer to a crematorium, according to KSAT.

The day after her funeral, Mission Park Funeral Homes employees discovered she was missing from her damaged and empty casket.

Her body has never been found.

Mott's parents accused the funeral home of poor security practices and inadequate training of employees, while Mission Park lawyers argued the woman's ex-boyfriend stole her body because he was opposed to cremation.

Police investigated the ex-boyfriend as a person of interest but he was not charged.

In a civil trial on Wednesday (local time), a jury awarded the woman's parents US$8 million for past and future mental anguish.

San Antonio police are still investigating the case.

Newshub.