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7NEWS
30-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Tabitha Worrell: Mother sues funeral home over son's body allegedly riddled with maggots during viewing
WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS A grieving mother is suing a US funeral home for negligence after her son's body was allegedly 'consumed by clumps of maggots' during an open casket viewing held for family and friends. Tabitha Worrell's son Torreon Williams, 24, had died in a car crash a week earlier and she had made a US$3000 (AUD$4500) down payment and organised for Snellings Funeral Home in Virginia to assist in laying him to rest. 'As mourners approached the body of Torreon Williams, these people noticed that Torreon Williams' body, particularly his face, nose and mouth, were covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots,' the lawsuit said, according to WRKC. 'The maggots had been on and in Torreon Williams' body for a significant period of time and had been purposely ignored on the day of Torreon Williams' service as, in addition to the aforementioned, the maggots had burrowed into holes in his cheek and mouth that had not existed previously,' the lawsuit read. Ms Worrell is suing the funeral home for $5 million (AUD$7.6m) over the May 2022 incident in the Chesapeake Circuit Court. She is claiming monetary loss as well as severe emotional distress. Mr Williams died after crashing his car when he lost control coming off a highway exit on May 2, 2022. Ms Worrell alleges the funeral home failed to store her son in a sealed refrigerator. The lawsuit claims that when the family arrived for the viewing, the doors to the home were open to the outdoors and the room where Mr Williams' body was prepared for viewing was warm. His aunt Tiffany Barnhart recalled Ms Worrell screaming at the funeral home viewing. 'I just remember my sister screaming. I remember the lady (who works for Snellings) placing her hand on her, telling her not to make a scene,' she told told Another staff member allegedly said 'flies got to him'. The lawsuit claims Ms Worrell has experienced severe and significant emotional distress ever since, including nightmares and flashbacks to the horror. Ms Worrell's lawyer Kevin Sharp described the scene as a 'grotesque freak show'. 'Maggots pouring out of this young man's nose. Maggots in his mouth, and on his face,' he said. Casey Jones, CEO of Holloman-Brown Funeral Homes, which owns Snelling Funeral Home, told 'The unexpected passing of Torreon Williams is tragic, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family. However, because the events following his death are the subject of ongoing litigation, we do not believe it is appropriate to comment publicly at this time.' A three day trial into the matter is set to begin on July 28.
West Australian
30-06-2025
- West Australian
Tabitha Worrell: Mother sues funeral home over son's body allegedly riddled with maggots during viewing
WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS A grieving mother is suing a US funeral home for negligence after her son's body was allegedly 'consumed by clumps of maggots' during an open casket viewing held for family and friends. Tabitha Worrell's son Torreon Williams, 24, had died in a car crash a week earlier and she had made a US$3000 (AUD$4500) down payment and organised for Snellings Funeral Home in Virginia to assist in laying him to rest. 'As mourners approached the body of Torreon Williams, these people noticed that Torreon Williams' body, particularly his face, nose and mouth, were covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots,' the lawsuit said, according to WRKC . 'The maggots had been on and in Torreon Williams' body for a significant period of time and had been purposely ignored on the day of Torreon Williams' service as, in addition to the aforementioned, the maggots had burrowed into holes in his cheek and mouth that had not existed previously,' the lawsuit read. Ms Worrell is suing the funeral home for $5 million (AUD$7.6m) over the May 2022 incident in the Chesapeake Circuit Court. She is claiming monetary loss as well as severe emotional distress. Mr Williams died after crashing his car when he lost control coming off a highway exit on May 2, 2022. Ms Worrell alleges the funeral home failed to store her son in a sealed refrigerator. The lawsuit claims that when the family arrived for the viewing, the doors to the home were open to the outdoors and the room where Mr Williams' body was prepared for viewing was warm. His aunt Tiffany Barnhart recalled Ms Worrell screaming at the funeral home viewing. 'I just remember my sister screaming. I remember the lady (who works for Snellings) placing her hand on her, telling her not to make a scene,' she told told . Another staff member allegedly said 'flies got to him'. The lawsuit claims Ms Worrell has experienced severe and significant emotional distress ever since, including nightmares and flashbacks to the horror. Ms Worrell's lawyer Kevin Sharp described the scene as a 'grotesque freak show'. 'Maggots pouring out of this young man's nose. Maggots in his mouth, and on his face,' he said. Casey Jones, CEO of Holloman-Brown Funeral Homes, which owns Snelling Funeral Home, told 'The unexpected passing of Torreon Williams is tragic, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family. However, because the events following his death are the subject of ongoing litigation, we do not believe it is appropriate to comment publicly at this time.' A three day trial into the matter is set to begin on July 28.
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Perth Now
Mum sues after son's body ‘consumed by maggots'
WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS A grieving mother is suing a US funeral home for negligence after her son's body was allegedly 'consumed by clumps of maggots' during an open casket viewing held for family and friends. Tabitha Worrell's son Torreon Williams, 24, had died in a car crash a week earlier and she had made a US$3000 (AUD$4500) down payment and organised for Snellings Funeral Home in Virginia to assist in laying him to rest. 'As mourners approached the body of Torreon Williams, these people noticed that Torreon Williams' body, particularly his face, nose and mouth, were covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots,' the lawsuit said, according to WRKC. 'The maggots had been on and in Torreon Williams' body for a significant period of time and had been purposely ignored on the day of Torreon Williams' service as, in addition to the aforementioned, the maggots had burrowed into holes in his cheek and mouth that had not existed previously,' the lawsuit read. Ms Worrell is suing the funeral home for $5 million (AUD$7.6m) over the May 2022 incident in the Chesapeake Circuit Court. She is claiming monetary loss as well as severe emotional distress. Mr Williams died after crashing his car when he lost control coming off a highway exit on May 2, 2022. Ms Worrell alleges the funeral home failed to store her son in a sealed refrigerator. The lawsuit claims that when the family arrived for the viewing, the doors to the home were open to the outdoors and the room where Mr Williams' body was prepared for viewing was warm. His aunt Tiffany Barnhart recalled Ms Worrell screaming at the funeral home viewing. 'I just remember my sister screaming. I remember the lady (who works for Snellings) placing her hand on her, telling her not to make a scene,' she told told Another staff member allegedly said 'flies got to him'. The lawsuit claims Ms Worrell has experienced severe and significant emotional distress ever since, including nightmares and flashbacks to the horror. Ms Worrell's lawyer Kevin Sharp described the scene as a 'grotesque freak show'. 'Maggots pouring out of this young man's nose. Maggots in his mouth, and on his face,' he said. Casey Jones, CEO of Holloman-Brown Funeral Homes, which owns Snelling Funeral Home, told 'The unexpected passing of Torreon Williams is tragic, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family. However, because the events following his death are the subject of ongoing litigation, we do not believe it is appropriate to comment publicly at this time.' A three day trial into the matter is set to begin on July 28.
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Family's horror as son's body 'covered with clumps of maggots' at funeral home
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Maggots had allegedly burrowed into holes in Torreon Williams' cheek and mouth at Snelling Funeral Home, which is in Chesapeake, Virginia A mum was disgusted to allegedly find her son's body "covered with clumps of maggots" at a funeral home. Tabitha Worrell is taking legal action against Snelling Funeral Home, which is in Chesapeake, Virginia, after it is said she was told "don't you make a scene" as employees took her to Torreon Williams' casket. She allegedly noticed the 24-year-old man's body, "particularly his face, nose, and mouth, were covered with and consumed by clumps of maggots". The lawsuit reads: "The maggots had been on and in Torreon Williams' body for a significant period of time and had been purposely ignored on the day of Torreon Williams" service as, in addition to the aforementioned, the maggots had burrowed into holes in his cheek and mouth that had not existed previously and were infested with large clumps of moving and visible maggots. "Plaintiff (Ms Worrell), her family, and friends experienced shock and horror at the grotesque display of the body of Torreon Williams and plaintiff (Ms Worrell) experienced extreme emotional disturbance." Mr Williams' family made a $3,000 (£2,200) down payment to the funeral home to handle the arrangements and scheduled a viewing and service. However, it is alleged "an employee of defendants (Snelling Funeral Home) approached the casket, placed her hands on plaintiff (Ms Worrell) and excleimed, 'don't you make a scene.'" After the family saw the horrid sight, it is said a male employee tried to justify the disturbance by claiming "flies got to him". Kevin Sharp, the family's lawyer, said the funeral home provided the family with a "grotesque freak show". He told based in Virginia: "Maggots pouring out of this young man's nose. Maggots in his mouth, and on his face." Ms Worrall's sister Tiffany Barnhart told the outlet her sibling screamed at the sight. Ms Barnhart added: "She was mortified by the way they reacted. They almost seemed to say, 'You don't overreact here.' You're the one to blame, not what they had done to her son." Mr Williams, who was a truck driver, "truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures," his obituary reads. These included chatting with friends and family, Youtubing, and spending time with his nephew. It adds: "Torreon had an uncanny ability to reach people profoundly and positively." The young man died of injuries suffered in a motorbike accident on Monday, May 2, 2022 and, after years of legal wrangling, the family is now finally able to press forward with its lawsuit. Ms Worrall is claiming in the suit the funeral home did not "adequately prepare, preserve and inspect" her son's body before the public viewing. They also believe that Snelling did not store the body in a sealed refrigeration environment, and it was thus exposed to elements. She is seeking $5,000,000 (£3.6million), as well as costs and fees and all other relief deemed fair. The case - a three-day jury trial - is set for Chesapeake Circuit Court's civil division on July 28.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longtime Newport News treasurer files as an Independent
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Longtime Newport News Treasurer Marty Eubank will seek re-election as an independent. Eubank filed paperwork and qualified with the Department of Voter Registration in May. For nearly three decades, Eubank has served as the Newport News treasurer. In March 2025, Eubank shared exclusively with WAVY-TV 10 that he would not seek re-election. Previous: Longtime Newport News treasurer will not seek reelection; 3 candidates enter race 'I did not have a change of heart. I have worked for the city for 41 years. I've been the longest-serving treasurer of 28 years for Newport News. I'm very proud of that. I very much looked forward to retiring this year,' he said. 'I did everything I could to position myself to run in this campaign for one more term. But after I met Sanu Dieng-Cooper, I talked to her and realized what a perfect candidate she would be to be my successor, which is something I've been looking for the past few years! She impressed me with her ideas, her vision, her knowledge of the office already, and her understanding of what it does. I realized she'd be the perfect candidate to win the Democratic primary. That's when I decided to bow out of the primary. I fully support Sanu. I 100% still endorse being the next Treasurer of Newport News. I'm confident that the voters will see how qualified she is. They will support and vote for her on June 17.' Your Local Election Headquarters on The Newport News Department of Voter Registration confirms that Sanu Dieng-Cooper and Derek Reason are the Democratic candidates for the June primary. There are no Republican candidates. Justin Kennedy, an independent candidate for treasurer, will appear on the November 4th ballot. Eubank told 10 On Your Side he filed as an independent following the 2025 NAACP Newport News Candidate Forum on April 30. 'I am confident she [Sanu] will win the Primary. But you can't predict an election, and that 1% off chance that Sanu might not win. Then I position myself to come back into the general election,' said Eubank. 'After watching the NAACP forum and listening to both sides, I was in the audience. I became concerned that Sanu Cooper has to be elected as our next treasurer. She has to!' Eubank also received a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request regarding the legitimacy of one of the candidates' businesses. WAVY-TV 10 received an independent copy of the FOIA from the Newport News Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue, which states the business in question 'does not hold a City of Newport News business license, as such a license is not required for the type of activity this business performs. The USDOT number associated with this business is currently listed as inactive in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database. The business's status with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is also listed as inactive per SCC records.' asked Eubank about 'integrity' following the recent filing. 'I'm doing it for the right reason, not the wrong reason. I'm not going back on my word. I still fully support Sanu. I fully expect her to win. She has my 100% endorsement. Come June 17, I will be by her side celebrating. But I am trying only to position myself [just] in case. Elections can be unpredictable in the event that 1% off the chance the Sanu is not elected. I will be here to protect this office,' said Eubank. Eubank urges residents to watch the candidate interviews and forum to 'judge for yourself.' 'I have always been a Democrat. I will always be a Democrat. I view myself at this point as an Independent-Democrat, but I'm doing what I have to do. I'm doing this for the right reasons. For the citizens of Newport News,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
