Morgue Switches Bodies

(Lafayette, Louisiana) Two women died recently at the Lafayette General Medical Center and their families retained two different funeral homes to handle arrangements. Unfortunately, the two funeral homes retrieved the wrong bodies from the morgue.

The error was discovered Friday morning, said Victor Raphael, owner of Raphael & Sons funeral home in Jennings. Raphael said the family of Ruby Joseph came to the funeral home to view her body and prepare it for burial, but when they arrived, discovered the woman was not their mother.

Raphael said he picked up the body he believed to be Joseph's from Lafayette General and had no idea there was a mistake until the family arrived.

"I went to Lafayette General and they gave me the wrong body," he said. "After the family came in on Friday morning to view the body, that's when I found out that it wasn't their relative. You can about imagine what their reaction was. They were horrified."

Raphael said Kinchen Funeral Home was supposed to handle the arrangements for the woman whose body was transported to Raphael's. But because of the mix-up, Joseph's body was cremated, Raphael said.

The other woman's name was not immediately available.

It's unclear what happens next. Presumably, all parties are consulting with their attorneys on possible lawsuits and/or out-of-court settlements. I suggest that someone's head be platterized. In fact, how about two heads platterized? Then they could switch them and burn one to see how somebody else likes it.