The family of a deceased woman whose body was allegedly shipped to the wrong country is suing the New York funeral home responsible after discovering the mistake on TikTok.
The children of Carmen Maldonado hired Phil Rizzuto of Rizzuto Law Firm, who filed paperwork to sue the owner of Rivera Funeral Home & RG Ortiz Wednesday, according to the The New York Post.
After Maldonado passed away in May, a viewing and service were held at the Bronx funeral home. Her remains were to be sent to her birthplace in Ecuador. Instead, her body arrived in Guatemala.
Rizzuto said that the funeral home did not inform the family, who learned of the error when one of Maldonado's relatives saw a TikTok posted by a Guatemalan journalist reporting on the situation. When confronted with the video, the funeral home allegedly admitted to the mistake.
One of Maldonado's children traveled to Guatemala to verify his mother's identity, and found her decomposing. "The hands of the body, the skin was falling off, so they had to wrap them in Saran wrap," Rizzuto told The Post.
"Carmen Maldonado was not properly prepared for transport and was carelessly sent to the wrong country while in the care and custody of the defendant, RG ORTIZ FUNERAL HOME, INC," Court documents obtained by PIX11 read.
"It is unconscionable how such egregious actions can take place. No amount of money is enough to hold the Rivera Funeral Home & RG Ortiz accountable for their mistake," Rizzuto told PIX11.
The family is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit.
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