ATLANTA — The parents of Timothy Garlington, a Pennsylvania man who died in Georgia, have filed a lawsuit against two funeral homes after claiming they were unknowingly given their deceased son’s brain in a box—an incident they describe as deeply traumatizing and inhumane.
Timothy Garlington passed away on November 15, 2023, while living in Georgia. In the days following his sudden death, his parents, whose names have not yet been publicly released, hired Southern Cremations & Funerals in Marietta, Georgia, and Nix & Nix Funeral Home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to handle the transportation of Timothy’s body and oversee his final arrangements.
Roughly a week later, the Garlingtons visited the Nix & Nix Funeral Home to collect what they believed were Timothy’s personal effects. Among the items given to them was a sealed red box, packed inside a larger cardboard container. The box was unmarked and no explanation was provided regarding its contents.
According to the suit, the grieving parents tried to open the red box out of curiosity but were unable to do so. However, while driving home, they began to notice a strong odor coming from the box. Not long after, a fluid began to leak, eventually soaking into their vehicle and splashing onto them.
The couple was later horrified to learn that the box allegedly contained their son’s brain matter, which had been removed during an autopsy. They claim they were never informed about the brain being handled separately and had no idea it would be returned in this manner.
In their lawsuit, filed in Pennsylvania, the Garlingtons accuse both funeral homes of gross negligence, reckless misconduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The legal complaint calls the incident “extreme and outrageous,” alleging that it has caused the couple severe psychological and emotional trauma.
“This was not just a tragic mistake — it was a gross violation of trust and dignity,” said the Garlingtons’ attorney. “Our clients were already mourning the loss of their son, and then they were handed a box leaking with the last thing any parent should ever see.”
The Garlingtons are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, aiming to hold the funeral homes accountable for what they describe as a shocking and humiliating mishandling of their son’s remains.
As of now, Southern Cremations & Funerals and Nix & Nix Funeral Home have not issued public statements or responses regarding the allegations. It is still unknown why Timothy’s brain was not cremated or properly stored, or why the family received it without notification or consent.
The incident has drawn widespread media attention and public concern, sparking conversations about ethical standards and oversight within the funeral industry. Many are calling for more transparency, especially in the handling of remains following autopsies.
For the Garlingtons, the pain of losing Timothy has now been compounded by what they call an unthinkable violation of trust.
“This experience has left scars that may never heal,” the family said through their attorney. “We hope this lawsuit not only brings justice for Timothy but prevents any other family from having to suffer through something this horrific.”
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