AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/Gray News) – The family of a baby whose remains are missing is suing a cemetery and funeral home in Georgia.
Jada Hickman, who was 6 months old when she passed away 23 years ago, was buried at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Augusta. Her parents, Kamaron Hickman and Fatima Nettles, chose the cemetery as her final resting place.
In early 2024, the couple made the difficult decision to exhume and cremate Jada’s remains, hoping to keep her close as they had both since divorced and moved away. However, when the cemetery groundskeeper went to locate her grave, they discovered that Jada’s body could not be found.
Hillcrest Memorial Park reportedly informed Jada’s parents that her remains were missing, citing “the passage of time” as the reason for their inability to locate her.
In response, the couple has filed a lawsuit against Hillcrest Memorial Park and Williams Funeral Home, accusing them of mishandling Jada’s remains. Despite spending thousands of dollars, the couple is still left without answers and without their daughter.
WRDW reached out to Hillcrest Memorial and SCI Shared Resources, the company that owns the cemetery. A spokesperson declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Attempts to contact the funeral home have not been returned.
The lawsuit includes 12 claims, alleging negligence and emotional distress caused to Jada’s family. It also accuses both the cemetery and funeral home of failing to respond to the family’s requests for information and assistance.
The family is seeking a fair trial and damages, including compensation for pain and suffering. While the lawsuit marks a step toward finding answers, the family’s ultimate goal is to recover their daughter’s remains.
The Secretary of State’s Office confirmed an active investigation through its cemetery board, but could not provide additional details at this time.
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