New York, NY – The family of Carmen Maldonado is suing R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home, also known as Rivera Funeral Home, after a mistake led to the 96-year-old’s body being sent to the wrong country for burial. Maldonado, who died on May 18 in New York, had wished to be laid to rest beside her husband in Ecuador.
Instead, her casket was mistakenly shipped to Guatemala, a mishap that the family learned about through a TikTok video posted by a journalist covering the error.
The lawsuit alleges that two days after Maldonado’s death, her children contracted the funeral home to ensure her remains would be transported to Ecuador. On May 26, however, the funeral home allegedly sent the body to Guatemala without notifying the family of the mistake.
The family became aware of the error only after seeing the TikTok video, leaving them “horrified, saddened, sickened, [and] dismayed,” according to court documents.
Rosa Sicha, Maldonado’s daughter, expressed disbelief and sorrow over the situation, telling WNBC, “I was devastated. I couldn’t believe that this could be such a big confusion.” Despite being assured by the funeral home that her mother’s body was still in their facility and that the delay was due to paperwork, the family later discovered the truth.
Phil Rizzuto, the family’s attorney, stated that Maldonado’s children were dealt a second blow when the funeral home initially denied the mistake, adding that “no amount of money can hold Rivera accountable for attempting to cover up their neglect.”
The body remained in Guatemala from May 26 until June 10, when Maldonado’s son traveled to recover it. By that time, the attorney said, her remains had significantly decomposed.
The funeral home and its legal representatives have declined to comment on the lawsuit. The case sheds light on the alleged mishandling of Maldonado’s remains and raises questions about accountability in the funeral industry.