Davon McGruder said he was stabbed when he showed up at Richardson Mortuary to check on his mother’s body.
HOUSTON — A family whose complaint led to the shutdown of a southwest Houston mortuary is now suing the funeral home and its owners. The civil suit, filed Monday, stems from the alleged mishandling of the body of the mother of that family and a stabbing inside Richardson Mortuary that left her son hospitalized.
The plaintiffs, Davon McGruder and Tamara McGruder Crooks, accuse Richardson Mortuary of abuse of a corpse, negligence, and fraudulent business practices. The suit also seeks answers about a $25,000 life insurance policy.
“This was never supposed to happen,” Tamara McGruder Crooks said in an exclusive interview with KHOU 11. “We just wanted to bury our mother with dignity.”
In April, Tamara visited the mortuary to check on her mother’s body and said she was disturbed by what she found. She said she noticed multiple bodies left in the open, showing signs of decomposition. She called her brother Davon, who arrived and began recording video. Shortly after, he was stabbed by an employee.
“My main artery was hit, and my intestine,” Davon McGruder said. “I had eight hours of surgery. It’s been up and down ever since.”
The employee accused of stabbing him was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That employee has claimed self-defense, though attorneys for the McGruder family say Davon was only trying to protect his sister.
“He almost lost his life trying to do the right thing,” attorney Tom Pirtle said. “They discovered what no family should ever have to see.”
In total, the Texas Funeral Service Commission said more than 80 cremated remains were recovered from the mortuary and turned over to law enforcement. Fewer than 10 have been reunited with families, according to early reports from Houston police. The state confirmed that additional bodies were transferred to other funeral homes.
The Commission has not responded to KHOU 11’s latest request for comment. Houston police said their investigation is still ongoing.
The state of Texas shut down Richardson Mortuary in May, citing “fraudulent, unprofessional, or deceptive conduct.” The business remains closed.
Richardson’s attorney told KHOU 11 he will not be commenting until he reviews the lawsuit.
“We’re one step closer to seeking justice,” Tamara said. “But it’s not enough. We want answers. And we want accountability.”