Family's horror as son's body 'covered with clumps of maggots' at funeral home

A mum was disgusted to allegedly find her son's body "covered with clumps of maggots" at a funeral home.

Tabitha Worrell is taking legal action against Snelling Funeral Home, which is in Chesapeake, Virginia, after it is said she was told "don't you make a scene" as employees took her to Torreon Williams' casket. She allegedly noticed the 24-year-old man's body, "particularly his face, nose, and mouth, were covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots".

The lawsuit reads: "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 and were infested with large clumps of moving and visible maggots.

"Plaintiff (Ms Worrell), her family, and friends experienced shock and horror at the grotesque display of the body of Torreon Williams and plaintiff (Ms Worrell) experienced extreme emotional disturbance."

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Mr Williams' family made a $3,000 (£2,200) down payment to the funeral home to handle the arrangements and scheduled a viewing and service. However, it is alleged "an employee of defendants (Snelling Funeral Home) approached the casket, placed her hands on plaintiff (Ms Worrell) and excleimed, 'don't you make a scene.'"

After the family saw the horrid sight, it is said a male employee tried to justify the disturbance by claiming "flies got to him". Kevin Sharp, the family's lawyer, said the funeral home provided the family with a "grotesque freak show". He told WAVY.com, based in Virginia: "Maggots pouring out of this young man’s nose. Maggots in his mouth, and on his face."

Ms Worrall's sister Tiffany Barnhart told the outlet her sibling screamed at the sight. Ms Barnhart added: "She was mortified by the way they reacted. They almost seemed to say, 'You don’t overreact here.' You’re the one to blame, not what they had done to her son."

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Mr Williams, who was a truck driver, "truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures," his obituary reads. These included chatting with friends and family, Youtubing, and spending time with his nephew. It adds: "Torreon had an uncanny ability to reach people profoundly and positively."

The young man died of injuries suffered in a motorbike accident on Monday, May 2, 2022 and, after years of legal wrangling, the family is now finally able to press forward with its lawsuit.

Ms Worrall is claiming in the suit the funeral home did not "adequately prepare, preserve and inspect" her son's body before the public viewing. They also believe that Snelling did not store the body in a sealed refrigeration environment, and it was thus exposed to elements. She is seeking $5,000,000 (£3.6million), as well as costs and fees and all other relief deemed fair.

The case - a three-day jury trial - is set for Chesapeake Circuit Court's civil division on July 28.