Tabitha Worrell: Mother sues funeral home over son’s body allegedly riddled with maggots during viewing

WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS

A grieving mother is suing a US funeral home for negligence after her son’s body was allegedly “consumed by clumps of maggots” during an open casket viewing held for family and friends.

Tabitha Worrell’s son Torreon Williams, 24, had died in a car crash a week earlier and she had made a US$3000 (AUD$4500) down payment and organised for Snellings Funeral Home in Virginia to assist in laying him to rest.

“As mourners approached the body of Torreon Williams, these people noticed that Torreon Williams’ body, particularly his face, nose and mouth, were covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots,” the lawsuit said, according to WRKC.

“The maggots had been on and in Torreon Williams’ body for a significant period of time and had been purposely ignored on the day of Torreon Williams’ service as, in addition to the aforementioned, the maggots had burrowed into holes in his cheek and mouth that had not existed previously,” the lawsuit read.

Ms Worrell is suing the funeral home for $5 million (AUD$7.6m) over the May 2022 incident in the Chesapeake Circuit Court. She is claiming monetary loss as well as severe emotional distress.

Mr Williams died after crashing his car when he lost control coming off a highway exit on May 2, 2022.

Ms Worrell alleges the funeral home failed to store her son in a sealed refrigerator.

The lawsuit claims that when the family arrived for the viewing, the doors to the home were open to the outdoors and the room where Mr Williams’ body was prepared for viewing was warm.

His aunt Tiffany Barnhart recalled Ms Worrell screaming at the funeral home viewing. “I just remember my sister screaming. I remember the lady (who works for Snellings) placing her hand on her, telling her not to make a scene,” she told told WAVY.com.

Another staff member allegedly said “flies got to him”.

The lawsuit claims Ms Worrell has experienced severe and significant emotional distress ever since, including nightmares and flashbacks to the horror.

Ms Worrell’s lawyer Kevin Sharp described the scene as a “grotesque freak show”.

“Maggots pouring out of this young man’s nose. Maggots in his mouth, and on his face,” he said.

Casey Jones, CEO of Holloman-Brown Funeral Homes, which owns Snelling Funeral Home, told WAVY.com: “The unexpected passing of Torreon Williams is tragic, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family. However, because the events following his death are the subject of ongoing litigation, we do not believe it is appropriate to comment publicly at this time.”

A three day trial into the matter is set to begin on July 28.