
The family of Addison Jenkins, a Camden resident who passed away in February 2023, is suing Boyd Funeral Home, claiming it mishandled his funeral arrangements. According to a lawsuit filed in September, the family alleges that the funeral home mistakenly placed a stranger’s body in Jenkins’ clothing and casket.
Jenkins had pre-arranged his funeral with Boyd Funeral Home, but when his family came to view the casket on Feb. 17, they were horrified by what they saw. The family says they were overcome with shock, as the body in the casket was unrecognizable to them. They described feeling “shocked, upset, confused and full of tears” in their complaint.
Efforts to address the issue were met with resistance, as the funeral director was unavailable, leaving a makeup artist to insist that the body was Jenkins. The family remained unconvinced, pointing out that identifying features like a cauliflower ear and a chronic foot infection were missing from the body.
The family alleges that photos sent by the funeral director later were inadequate, furthering their suspicion that the wrong body had been placed in the casket. On Feb. 18, during a second viewing, they were able to confirm the body was Jenkins.
Attorney Michael Shaw, representing the family, criticized the funeral home’s reaction, describing it as “callous.” He accused the funeral home of “gaslighting” the family by continuing to insist that the wrong body was Jenkins’. Shaw stated that the family is pursuing damages for emotional distress and is requesting a jury trial.