- The physique of a deceased Georgia man has been lacking for 3 years, after it was shipped through FedEx.
- The cargo violated federal tips for sending human stays, based on the Atlantia Journal-Structure.
- The physique was despatched for additional examination attributable to its superior decay lower than two weeks after his demise.
A FedEx field containing the stays of 32-year-old Jeffrey Merriweather has now been lacking for 3 years, based on a report from the Atlanta Journal-Structure.
The physique of Merriweather, who died in Atlanta in 2019, was first despatched to the Fulton County Medical Examiner, then it was shipped to a facility in St. Louis for extra testing, AJC reported. In keeping with native studies, officers needed to raised perceive how the physique mysteriously decomposed right into a “near-complete skeleton” lower than two weeks after his suspected homicide — however the cargo by no means arrived.
Along with the stress on Merriweather’s household — he’s survived by his mother and father and two daughters — the cargo additionally could have violated federal regulation, AJC discovered.
In keeping with the Nationwide Funeral Administrators Affiliation, the U.S. Postal Service is the one entity legally allowed to move human stays, and the cargo should adhere to the precise protocols in tips, revealed in 2019.
“It is a nightmare you may’t get up from,” his mom, Kathleen Merriweather advised the AJC. “I simply need — I want — closure. And I do know his children are resilient, however I feel they in all probability want that additionally.”
Representatives for the Fulton County Medical Examiner and FedEx didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s request for remark, although a FedEx spokesperson confirmed to the AJC that “shipments of this nature are prohibited inside the FedEx community.”
“Our ideas and considerations stay with the household of Mr. Merriweather, nevertheless, we request that additional questions be directed to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s workplace,” the spokesperson advised the AJC.
The incident has prompted a stir on Twitter. After the AJC’s official account shared the story, FedEx’s customer support responded with, “I’m really sorry you went by this expertise. Please ship a direct message so I can proceed aiding you.”
The tweet included a sign-off from somebody named “Gaby.”
—FedEx Assist (@FedExHelp) July 15, 2022
—MintWizard (@wizard_mint) July 15, 2022
—Hans Gruber (@TIFofT) July 15, 2022
In keeping with native studies, Merriweather’s physique was present in an deserted home 10 days after he was reported lacking, although police on the scene mentioned they imagine he was shot exterior a McDonald’s close by as a part of a drug deal gone awry.
The state of his physique puzzled the medical expert, nevertheless; attributable to superior decay, his skeletal stays weighed simply 34 kilos, AJC reported.
“I simply need somebody to be held answerable for this,” Merriweather’s father, Jeffrey Merriweather Sr., advised Individuals in April. “I’ve his two children too, and there isn’t any closure for us. I simply do not perceive how sure legal guidelines shield individuals from issues like this.”
