DNA test after wrong body delivered to family

Published: 9:09AM Thursday January 16, 2014 Source: AP

Source: Thinkstock

The daughter of a US woman whose casket contained the wrong body said DNA tests will be performed to determine if her mother was accidentally cremated in Canada.

Lisa Kondvar and her family discovered someone else's body in Margaret Porkka's casket last month at a New Jersey funeral home. Ms Porkka, 82, had died unexpectedly during a trip to St Maarten over Thanksgiving.

The family suspects Ms Porkka's body was confused with that of a Canadian woman who died on the island around the same time, and was sent to Canada and cremated.

Ms Kondvar said bodily fluids were recovered from a casket in Canada that might have contained Porkka's body. The family has sent her hairbrush and toothbrush for DNA testing. Results are not expected until the end of the month, Ms Kondvar said.

"They're just starting on it now," she said. "It's frustrating."

The family wants to take possession of the ashes if they are determined to be those of Ms Porkka. Ms Kondvar said her father, Pete, is "just broken" after not being able to say a goodbye to his wife.

St. Maarten Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said last week that the government there has formed a committee to investigate the case at the request of US officials.

Emerald Funeral Home director Orlando Vanterpool said, to his knowledge, he sent the correct remains but that he will provide a refund if it's determined a mistake was made.

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DNA test after wrong body delivered to family