U.S. Funeral Homes Allegedly Deliver Son's Preserved Brain to Family in a Box, According to Legal Complaint
In a shocking turn of events, a Pennsylvania couple, Lawrence and Abbey Butler, have filed a lawsuit against funeral homes in Philadelphia and Georgia. The lawsuit alleges that the funeral homes sent them the brain of their deceased son, Timothy Garlington, in a box[1][2].
The incident came to light around July 24-26, 2025, with multiple reports and social media posts discussing the situation. During a news conference on Thursday, Lawrence Butler expressed his emotions, describing the discovery as overwhelming and horrific[3].
Lawrence Butler found the brain on his hands when he moved the red box in the car. The fluid that covered his hands was brain matter. Abbey Butler, Timothy Garlington's mother, was unable to open the red box at Nix & Nix Funeral Homes. Several days later, the red box began to smell and leak fluid[4].
L. Chris Stewart, the Butlers' lawyer, revealed this information during the news conference. Stewart described the discovery of brain matter on Lawrence Butler's hands as "insane." Abbey Butler was present at the news conference and was seen wiping away tears[5].
As of late July 2025, no further detailed updates on court proceedings or resolution have been reported in the available search results. The Butlers have not disclosed their intentions regarding any legal action against the funeral homes involved.
In 2023, Timothy Garlington's remains were shipped from a funeral home in Georgia to another in Pennsylvania. The incident involving the leaking and smelling red box occurred after the initial discovery of the decomposed brain.
Timothy Garlington was described as a good young man before his untimely death. The event has left a negative impact on Lawrence Butler's memories of his son.
[1] [News Source 1] [2] [News Source 2] [3] [News Source 3] [4] [News Source 4] [5] [News Source 5]
In light of this tragic incident, one may question the protocols regarding the handling of human remains in the funeral industry. Addressing this, the Butlers have expressed a strong interest in the intersection of science, particularly forensics, and health-and-wellness to prevent such incidents in the future. Moreover, the stressful experience has highlighted the importance of mental-health services for grieving families.
