Couple Sues Over Son's Brain Shipped in Box

Lawrence and Abbey Butler of Philadelphia are suing Nix & Nix Funeral Homes in Pennsylvania and Southern Cremations & Funerals in Georgia after allegedly receiving their son Timothy Garlington's brain in an unmarked, leaking box among his belongings. Garlington died in Georgia in November 2023, and his remains were transported to Pennsylvania by the funeral homes. The Butlers discovered the box leaking fluid and emitting a foul odor in their car, later learning it contained brain matter. The lawsuit accuses both funeral homes of negligence, mishandling human remains, and causing severe emotional distress, calling the incident 'extreme and outrageous.' The Butlers' attorneys argue that separating and shipping a brain is highly irregular and should have involved proper labeling and biohazard precautions. Both funeral homes have either denied knowledge of the box's contents or declined to comment, and the Butlers report receiving no apology or explanation.