Family files lawsuit after victim's casket popped open during burial

theGRIO REPORT - A Brooklyn woman was killed by her husband, but her family is saying a recent funeral mishap feels like she's been "murdered twice."

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

A Brooklyn woman was killed by her husband, but her family is saying a recent funeral mishap feels like she’s been “murdered twice.”

At victim’s Nequia Webb-Davidson’s funeral, the casket containing her body popped open when cemetery workers tried to fit it into a grave that was too small.

And now her relatives have filed suit according to the New York Daily News.

“When they attempted to place the casket into the grave, it jammed in a cockeyed manner,” said family lawyer Ronald Katter. “It was like if you were trying to put a size 13 shoe into a size 6 shoebox.”

He then continued,  “The lid was not properly closed, locked or sealed. In trying to force it into the grave, it opened. The remains were exposed to the outside and dirt and rocks got in.”

Those who were present at the funeral were understandably upset.

“It’s like her being murdered twice,” said the victim’s stepmother, Chyril Braan. “It’s hard because it’s forever on your mind.”

According to the lawsuit, workers then tried to dig the grave a little wider and force the casket inside but only succeeded in getting more dirt and rocks inside the casket itself. Finally, they asked to postpone the funeral until the grave could be widened and the casket cleaned out the next day.

“Some people couldn’t go back the next day,” Katter said. “They couldn’t handle it.”

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