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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Family Distressed by Mom’s Brain in a Bag

WEST JORDAN, Utah (CN) - A family claims Serenicare funeral home handed them their mother's brain in a bag during her funeral service. Only later did they find out that the bag containing her personal effects also contained her brain, in "a bag labeled with her name, and the word 'brain' on it," according to the complaint.

The Romero family sued Serenicare for mishandling of a body and negligent infliction of emotional distress, in Salt Lake County Court.

Their mother, Maria Romero, died in a car crash. Serenicare, in coordination with nonparties De Vargas Funeral Home and Goff Funeral Services, then took her body from Utah to New Mexico, according to the complaint.

During the funeral services, the family says, they were handed a bag containing her personal affects. "At some time after the funeral, plaintiff Conrad Romero [her husband] smelled a foul odor coming from the bag," the complaint states.

"It was discovered that along with Maria Felicita Romero's belongings was a bag labeled with her name, and the word 'brain' on it."

The family adds, "As a result of seeing or perceiving Serenicare LLC's failure to completely bury decedent, Maria Felicita Romero, the plaintiffs have suffered severe emotional distress."

The family is represented by Jeffrey Gooch of Salt Lake City.

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