A stillborn infant’s remains were discovered in the laundry at a Louisiana dry cleaner — nearly two weeks after the baby’s funeral in Dallas, Texas — in a disturbing and heartbreaking mix-up that’s now under investigation.
The shocking discovery was made around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, when employees at Alsco Uniforms in Shreveport, Louisiana, unwrapped what they initially thought was a doll tucked inside a load of soiled linens. Instead, it was the mummified body of a newborn.
“It was a very disturbing scene,” said Corporal Chris Bordelon of the Shreveport Police Department. “Officers found what was a small infant, what was described as mummified.”
Police said the body gave off a strong odor of formaldehyde and showed signs of early decomposition, suggesting the infant had been embalmed.
The baby had been stillborn on May 3 in Dallas and was laid to rest during a funeral service at Golden Gate Funeral Home & Crematory on May 17. According to reports, the child was scheduled to be cremated — but somehow, the remains were transported nearly 200 miles away to Louisiana with a load of soiled laundry.
Detectives believe the body was mistakenly included with linens shipped to Alsco, a commercial laundry facility. At this time, police say no foul play is suspected.
“This is a deeply distressing situation,” said Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith. “Our thoughts are with the family of the child as this investigation unfolds.”
In response, the Texas Funeral Service Commission has expanded an ongoing investigation into Golden Gate Funeral Home, which was already under review for unrelated allegations.
“Every decedent is entitled to a respectful and lawful disposition,” said TFSC Executive Director Scott Bingaman. “This case has created unnecessary and deeply distressing obstacles for a grieving family due to alleged negligence.”
The commission said it had previously taken disciplinary action against the funeral home and is now reassessing its compliance history. If violations are confirmed, officials said, enforcement action will follow.
Neither Golden Gate Funeral Home, Alsco Uniforms, nor the TFSC immediately responded to media requests for comment.