In a disturbing incident, two funeral homes are facing allegations related to the mishandling of human remains, specifically involving the brain of a deceased man, Timothy Garlington. The case has been brought to light in an updated lawsuit filed recently, highlighting the traumatic experience endured by Garlington's parents, Lawrence and Abbey Butler.

The Butlers’ ordeal began after they arranged for their son’s remains to be shipped from Southern Cremations & Funerals at Cheatham Hill in Georgia to Nix & Nix Funeral Homes in Pennsylvania following his death in 2023. Last week, during a news conference, Lawrence Butler expressed the devastation surrounding the discovery of his son’s brain in a cardboard box that had leaky fluid, contributing to some horrific memories associated with their son’s passing.

Lawrence Butler recounted, “It was, and it is still, in my heart that I got in my car and I smelled death,” as he struggled with emotional turmoil. His wife, Abbey Butler, stood alongside him, visibly distressed as tears streamed down her face. They picked up their son’s belongings at the Nix & Nix funeral home, including a white cardboard box that contained an unlabeled red box. The couple had no idea that what they were taking home would lead to such a shocking revelation.

According to the Butlers' attorney, L. Chris Stewart, Abbey Butler could not open the red box when they received it. However, several days later, a foul odor began to emanate from the red box while it was still in the Butlers' car. When Lawrence Butler finally picked it up, he discovered that the fluid leaking from the box was brain matter. “It’s insane,” Stewart remarked during the news conference, as he disclosed the extent of the emotional distress inflicted upon the couple.

Upon contacting the funeral home in Georgia, the Butlers were informed that the contents of the box included Garlington's brain and that a mistake had occurred during the handling process. The Butlers subsequently returned the box to Nix & Nix, hoping for clarity and resolution. ASV Partners, the company that owns Southern Cremations, refrained from providing comment through the Associated Press.

Stewart emphasized that the Butlers’ traumatic experience was compounded by the knowledge that their last memory of their son involved holding his brain. “I had to get rid of that car,” Lawrence Butler stated, conveying the profound discomfort at the thought of his son's remains being in the vehicle. The lawsuit alleges that both funeral homes exhibited negligence in the handling of human remains and inflicted emotional distress intentionally or recklessly.

Stewart consulted other funeral homes as part of his investigations and noted that, under normal circumstances, a brain would never be shipped in the manner described. If ever separated from the body, it should be placed in a sealed, labeled biohazard bag, ensuring proper handling and transport protocol.

Julian Nix, the manager of Nix & Nix Funeral Homes, maintained that his establishment was not responsible for the mix-up, attributing the error to the unlabeled box received from Southern Cremations. He stated that they reported the matter to the authorities as soon as they discovered the contents. Nix mentioned that an investigation conducted by the state board found no fault on their part, although the resulting documents were not yet accessible to the Butlers.

The Butlers are now seeking compensation for their distress and answers regarding the institutional failings that led to this incident. They also aspire for the lawsuit to serve as a cautionary tale, preventing similar occurrences from happening in the future. After Garlington, a 56-year-old veteran of the U.S. Marines, was interred at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, the Butlers remain uncertain if his brain was buried with him. Stewart expressed their deep concern, stating, “They fear, which is totally understandable: Is he resting in peace?”