A Virginia mother has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Snellings Funeral Home and its parent company after mourners discovered her 24-year-old son’s body infested with maggots during his open-casket viewing, with insects “pouring out of his nose” and burrowing into holes in his face.
Tabitha Worrell filed the lawsuit against Snellings Funeral Home in Chesapeake and owner Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home in Norfolk, alleging breach of contract and negligence after the May 9, 2022 viewing of her son Torreon Williams, who had died in a car accident one week earlier.
According to court documents, mourners approaching Williams’ casket noticed his face, nose and mouth were “covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots” that had been present for a “significant period of time” and were “purposely ignored” by funeral home staff on the day of service.
The lawsuit states the maggots had “burrowed into holes in his cheek and mouth that had not existed previously,” creating what the family’s attorney Kevin Sharp described as a “grotesque freak show” instead of a dignified farewell.
When Worrell began screaming in “shock and horror” at the sight of her son’s condition, a funeral home employee allegedly placed hands on her and said, “Don’t you make a scene.” Another employee reportedly dismissed the situation by saying “flies got to him.
Failure to Properly Prepare Body
The family had paid $3,000 as a down payment for funeral services, which included sanitary care and dressing of the body. However, the lawsuit alleges Snellings failed to properly clean, disinfect and embalm Williams’ body before the viewing.
They received his body, and they did not properly clean and disinfect his body, and then he went through the embalming process. That was improper,” Sharp told local NBC affiliate WAVY, explaining his theory of how the infestation occurred.
Court documents indicate the funeral home doors were open to the outside on the viewing day and the rooms were warm, conditions that could have contributed to the infestation. The lawsuit claims the funeral home failed to store the body in a properly sealed refrigerated environment.
Embalming, when performed correctly, typically halts decomposition enough for the deceased to be shown for up to seven days. Industry experts note that failure to properly refrigerate bodies or inadequate embalming can lead to rapid decomposition that attracts insects.
Family Devastated by Experience
Torreon Williams’ aunt, Tiffany Barnhart, recalled the traumatic scene to WAVY: “I just remember my sister screaming. I remember the lady placing her hand on her, telling her not to make a scene.”
The lawsuit claims the family has essentially “lost” Tabitha Worrell as she now “experiences nightmares, trauma, sleeplessness, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, nausea, humiliation, embarrassment, grief and horror that is significant and permanently affects all of her activities.
“She was mortified by the way they reacted,” Sharp said of the funeral home staff’s response. “They almost seemed to say, ‘You don’t overreact here.’ You’re the one to blame, not what they had done to her son.”
Industry Standards and Violations
Funeral homes are required to maintain strict standards for handling remains, including proper refrigeration, sanitation protocols, and appropriate embalming procedures. Mortuary neglect can include improper storage, failure to follow embalming procedures, and inadequate facility maintenance.
According to forensic entomology standards, maggot infestation of a corpse in a funeral home setting indicates significant neglect. Flies are attracted to decomposing tissue immediately after death and can lay eggs that develop into larvae within hours under warm conditions.
The National Funeral Directors Association regulates mortuary practices and requires facilities to maintain controlled temperature environments and follow specific embalming protocols to preserve dignity for the deceased.
Company Response and Legal Proceedings
Casey Jones, CEO of Hollomon-Brown Funeral Homes, released a brief statement to media outlets: “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.
Hollomon-Brown Funeral Homes operates multiple locations throughout the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, including eight funeral home locations. The company has been in business for over 100 years, with Snellings Funeral Home becoming part of the Hollomon-Brown family in 1975.
The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages for breach of contract, negligence and emotional distress. The family is also suing for the financial loss due to paying for funeral services that were not performed in a “professional or sanitary manner.
Trial Set for July
The case is scheduled to be heard in Chesapeake Circuit Court’s civil division beginning July 28, with the court expecting a three-day jury trial. The family’s attorney has indicated they believe the full truth about how the infestation occurred will emerge during the proceedings.
Legal experts note that funeral home negligence cases often involve violations of state licensing requirements, improper handling of remains, or breach of contract when services paid for are not adequately performed.
Common causes of funeral home litigation include employment of unlicensed personnel, lack of proper training, failure to maintain sanitary conditions, and improper storage or refrigeration of bodies. Such negligence can result in loss of licenses, penalties, and substantial damage awards.
Broader Implications
The case highlights the vulnerability families face when entrusting funeral homes with their loved ones’ remains during an already traumatic time. Industry professionals emphasize that proper protocols exist specifically to prevent such devastating situations.
Defendants are or should be aware of the necessity for preparation and proper presentation of the appropriate deceased individuals and the treatment of importance of same to surviving family and friends,” the lawsuit states.
The Worrell family’s experience underscores the critical importance of funeral homes adhering to industry standards and maintaining the dignity of the deceased. As this case proceeds to trial, it may prompt increased scrutiny of funeral home practices and enforcement of existing regulations.
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