Ex-NFL participant’s widow sues Alabama funeral dwelling for ‘cremating husband’s mind with out consent’

One yr after former New Orleans Saints participant Glenn Foster Jr. died in police custody, his household has sued an Alabama funeral dwelling for allegedly cremating his mind with out consent, thereby stopping a correct examination.

In response to an announcement from the household’s legal professional, Benjamin Crump, funeral dwelling firm, Carriage Companies, destroyed Foster’s mind ‘in breach of the contract between the events.’

Foster Jr. died in December 2021 with reported indicators of ‘neck compressions and strangulation’ whereas in Alabama police custody, in line with an impartial pathologist employed by his household. Dr. Michael Baden, a widely known pathologist, indicated that the 31-year-old African-American man didn’t die of ‘pure causes,’ in line with a 2021 assertion from Crump. Foster’s household believes he was having a manic episode resulting in his arrest.

The lawsuit was introduced by Foster’s widow, Anny Pamela Foster, who continues to try to get solutions surrounding her late husband’s demise. The defendants within the submitting embody Carriage Companies, Backyard of Reminiscences Funeral Dwelling, Schoen and Son Funeral Dwelling, John Appel, Jr., and ACORD Company.

Carriage Companies, Backyard of Reminiscences Funeral Dwelling, in addition to Schoen and Son Funeral Dwelling didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com’s request for remark.

‘Mrs. Foster and her household have skilled a lot tragedy already, and the mishandling of her beloved husband’s stays and destruction of his mind add insult to harm,’ plaintiffs’ co-counsel Ken Abbarno mentioned in an announcement. ‘The defendants on this case had one job to do, and their gross negligence and incompetence are nothing wanting horrific.

‘A full yr later, important questions stay as to why Mr. Foster died behind that police automobile,’ Abbarno continued. ‘Pickens County nonetheless owes Mrs. Foster and her household solutions concerning her husband’s demise. That the household now should additionally deal with the mishandling of his physique is really heartbreaking.’

Foster was arrested for driving twice the velocity restrict and evading police by the agricultural Alabama neighborhood on December 3. Police say he was handcuffed and brought into custody with out incident.

‘He was wholesome once we left him on the jail,’ Reform (Alabama) Police Chief Richard Black mentioned in 2021.

Lawyer Benjamin Crump (middle, pictured in April of 2021) is working with Foster’s household and enlisted Dr. Michael Baden to assessment a health worker’s findings within the case 

Foster’s household got here to city on December 4, 2021 and made bond on the situation that police took him to Birmingham for any medical evaluation that was wanted, in line with a police assertion. However the Pickens County Sheriff’s Workplace had positioned a maintain on Foster by December 5, 2021, when he allegedly beat one other prisoner.

Whereas being handcuffed, Foster fought in opposition to a Pickens County deputy and a correctional officer, injuring the deputy’s nostril and hand, in line with courtroom information obtained by The Related Press.

Foster had an preliminary courtroom look earlier than Pickens County District Choose Samuel Junkin, the place he was ‘non-compliant and refused to reply to reply any questions’ except for demanding an legal professional, the decide wrote in an order Monday.

Based mostly on police observations and the way Foster behaved, the decide mentioned Foster was ‘not mentally secure and a hazard to himself and others’ and ordered him held with out bond for a psychological analysis at Taylor Hardin Safe Medical Facility in Tuscaloosa.

However what occurred from that point till his demise in December of 2021 is unclear. Few different particulars, together with the outcomes of an post-mortem, have been launched.

Dr. Michael Baden, a widely known pathologist working with Foster household attorneys, indicated that the 31-year-old African-American man didn’t die of ‘pure causes,’ in line with a 2021 assertion from legal professional Benjamin Crump. Baden beforehand made headlines by disputing the New York health worker’s ruling that pedophile Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, suggesting he was actually murdered. He has additionally examined different high-profile circumstances, such because the police homicide of George Floyd in Minneapolis final yr

His mother and father have since revealed that he struggled with bipolar dysfunction and informed The Instances-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate that they think he did not get correct therapy in custody.

‘Conserving individuals in your custody alive is actually the bottom bar we are able to set for a legislation enforcement company, and is one thing that the Pickens County Sheriff’s Workplace didn’t do,’ learn a 2021 assertion from the Foster household attorneys.

‘Pickens County owes the household the reality referring to Mr. Foster’s tragic demise. These findings are deeply regarding and demand a full and clear investigation into what occurred to Glenn Foster Jr. and the way he misplaced his life. We won’t cease till we get solutions and justice for Glenn, his household, and the neighborhood.’

Initially from Chicago, Foster has been residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He performed two seasons for the Saints at defensive finish, showing in 17 video games in 2013 and 2014.

The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation was the circumstances surrounding Foster’s demise as not too long ago as February. Bureau spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com’s request for an replace on the investigation.

Foster was born in Chicago and performed faculty soccer at Illinois. An undrafted free agent, he signed with the Saints and appeared in 17 complete video games over the 2013 and 2014 seasons. 

He recorded eight tackles, three sacks and 7 quarterback hits.

The Saints minimize him earlier than the 2015 season and he then began a second profession as an actual property agent, developer and contractor. 

He owned a countertop enterprise with two retail places.

‘I actually cannot discover the phrases to correctly categorical,’ Foster’s former Saints teammate Terron Armstead wrote on Twitter. ‘Relaxation in peace Glenn Foster, you will be missed bro!’