Investigation Underway After Deceased Baby Girl Found Inside Hearse at Alabama Funeral Home

• Investigation Underway After Deceased Baby Girl Found Inside Hearse at Alabama Funeral Home

GADSDEN, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – Authorities in Gadsden, Alabama have launched an investigation after the body of a deceased baby girl was discovered inside a hearse at a local funeral home under suspicious and deeply disturbing circumstances.

According to Gadsden Police, the shocking discovery was made at West Gadsden Funeral Home, a family-run business in the city. The baby girl’s body was reportedly found unsecured and lying inside the back of a hearse, not in a casket or any proper containment, sparking a wave of concern, confusion, and outrage in the community.

Details Emerge from Funeral Home Staff

Dantez Robinson, owner of West Gadsden Funeral Home, told local media that the situation unfolded after his employees returned from an unrelated call. As they were unloading and cleaning the hearse, one of the staff members noticed what appeared to be a doll lying in the back. Upon closer inspection, it became devastatingly clear that it was not a toy, but the body of a human baby girl.

“They thought it was a doll,” Robinson said. “But when they got closer, they realized it was an actual baby. No one was expecting this or even knew she was there.”

Robinson emphasized that neither he nor his employees were aware that the baby’s body had been placed in the hearse, raising immediate questions about how she got there, who placed her there, and why she was not inside a casket or documented in their care.

Police and Coroner Respond

Gadsden Police responded to the funeral home following the discovery and have since opened a full investigation. The Etowah County Coroner’s Office is also involved in the case and is currently working to determine the identity of the baby, the cause of death, and whether any criminal activity was involved.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the baby was previously in the custody of a hospital, a medical examiner, or another funeral home. No charges have been filed at this time, but police have not ruled out the possibility of negligence or foul play.

Unanswered Questions

The discovery has raised a number of alarming and unresolved questions:

• Who placed the baby in the hearse?
• Was the baby ever officially logged or registered as being in the care of the funeral home?
• Was there a failure in communication between institutions responsible for the baby’s body?
• Could this have been an error from a hospital, coroner’s office, or transport service?
• Was there any criminal intent, or was this a tragic mistake?

For now, authorities are remaining tight-lipped about specific details until more is known. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, speaking with all employees involved, and tracing all recent calls and pickups made by the funeral home.

Community Reacts with Shock and Sadness

The community of Gadsden is reeling from the news. Residents have expressed shock and heartbreak at the situation, with many calling for transparency and accountability as the investigation unfolds. Local churches and community leaders are also stepping forward to offer support and counseling services.

“This is not something we ever thought we’d hear,” said a local pastor. “A child found dead in the back of a hearse — it’s tragic and deeply troubling. We need answers, and we need to come together as a community to ensure this never happens again.”

Funeral Home Owner Cooperating

Dantez Robinson said he and his team are cooperating fully with investigators and are just as stunned as the rest of the community. He added that the funeral home has served the Gadsden area for years and has never faced an incident of this nature.

“We’re devastated,” he said. “We want to know what happened just as much as everyone else. This baby deserves dignity and justice.”

Ongoing Investigation

As of now, the investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities have not released the name of the baby or any other identifying information pending further examination and notification of next of kin.

Officials urge anyone with information that could aid the investigation to come forward.

This tragic case has underscored the importance of oversight, chain-of-custody procedures, and accountability in the handling of deceased individuals, particularly infants and children. It is unclear whether this case will lead to policy changes, criminal charges, or regulatory reviews, but for now, one small life lost under mysterious circumstances has left a community in mourning and searching for the truth.