A San Jose father endured unimaginable horror after an Indian-origin funeral director handed him a bag containing his deceased son’s brain instead of requested clothing, according to a lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court. Alexander Pinon, 32, died on November 20, from a fentanyl overdose, leaving his parents devastated and seeking personal items for a proper memorial, ABC News reported.
Gruesome discovery
Pinon’s father visited Willow Glen Funeral Home on December 5 to retrieve his son’s belongings, including clothing for the burial. The director, identified as Anita Singh, provided a sealed plastic bag, assuring it held the items. Trusting the handover, the father took it home and tossed it into the washing machine. As the cycle ran, brain tissue tumbled out, splattering the laundry and horrifying the family.
“It was supposed to be my son’s clothes…not this,” the lawsuit quotes the father, who immediately recognized the material from his medical background. Photos in the complaint show the gruesome remnants amid wet fabrics.
Funeral home mishandling
The suit named Willow Glen Funeral Home and director Robert D Miller, alleging gross negligence, breach of contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Pinon’s body arrived at the home post-autopsy, where standard procedures require returning organs unless donated.
Attorneys have claimed the brain was improperly stored in a bag marked for clothing, violating California funeral laws mandating respectful handling of remains. The family learned of the error only after the shocking laundry incident, prompting demands for $10 million in damages for psychological trauma.
Legal and regulatory fallout
Miller declined comment, citing the ongoing litigation, but the home faces scrutiny from the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. Investigators confirmed the brain belonged to Pinon via records. This incident echoes past mishaps, like the 2023 Nevada scandal involving hundreds of cremated remains, highlighting lax oversight in the death care industry. Pinon’s parents, still grieving, have now pursue justice to prevent future desecrations. The case, set for initial hearings in January 2026, underscores the sacred trust families place in funeral professionals during their darkest moments.