A Philadelphia couple has filed a lawsuit against two funeral homes — one in Pennsylvania and another in Georgia — after claiming they were given their deceased son’s brain in a leaking, unmarked box, instead of his remains.
The couple’s son, 56-year-old Timothy Garlington, passed away in Georgia on November 15, 2023. Though originally from Philadelphia, he had been living in Georgia at the time of his death. The Butlers hired both funeral homes — one in Georgia for initial arrangements and Nix & Nix Funeral Homes in Philadelphia for the final transfer — to coordinate his burial.
According to the lawsuit, Garlington’s body was transported to Philadelphia five days later. When the couple later went to collect what they believed were his personal effects, they were handed a plain white box with no label or documentation. As they drove home, the box began to leak and emit a foul odor. Upon opening it, they discovered their son’s brain inside.
“It was — and still is — in my heart,” Lawrence Butler said tearfully during a press conference. “I smelled death in my car. I had to get rid of that car. I just couldn’t bear it,” he told reporters, as reported by NBC10.
The lawsuit alleges gross negligence, mishandling of human remains, and emotional distress. The Butlers also say that neither funeral home offered an apology or adequate explanation for the shocking incident.
The owner of Nix & Nix Funeral Homes responded to NBC10, saying the staff had no idea the box contained human remains and assumed it held personal belongings. The owner added that the business has since been cleared by the state funeral board.
The case raises serious questions about the handling and transport of human remains and highlights the devastating emotional toll such lapses can inflict on grieving families.
