California Parents Sue Mortuary After Chaotic Infant Funeral Blunders

Parents sue mortuary after chaotic funeral delays, wrong vaults, and plan to unearth baby. Full trial details.

September 10, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Santa Ana, California — A grieving couple is set to present their case in a civil trial against a Santa Ana mortuary, alleging a series of catastrophic errors during the funeral of their two-month-old son in March 2022.

The parents, William Gutierrez and Jacqueline Bahena, claim that cemetery workers encountered multiple failures, including a three-hour delay, incorrect-sized burial vaults, and an unexpected proposal to exhume their infant the following day, according to court filings.

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The family had selected a specific plot for their child, but when they arrived, workers hit concrete while digging, making it impossible to open the grave. They were forced to use an alternate site, which led to further complications as staff struggled to find the right vault size. The funeral was delayed by three hours, with guests, including a hired mariachi band, left waiting for extended periods.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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