Micheal Hasting allegedly cremated without family's consent.

[just Warren]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21WnsubYFps&feature=youtu.be

If true, this is going to feed conspiracy theorists for years. I don't normally subscribe to conspiracy theories of the grand sort because I view government types as too incompetent and/or ambitious so that they'll gladly release information if it helps them move up or send a rival down. So while I viewed Hasting's death as awfully convenient for certain folks I didn't let myself get pulled into the speculation.   

This, though...wow. I'm stunned at either the audacity or the incompetence of it.   

[vaskidmark]

Help me understand this.

The body was burned "beyond recognition".  The extent to which it was burned is not known.  Is there anything to show that what was returned in the urn was burned additionally (fully cremated) after the autopsy?

Is it possible we have a coroner who figured the best way to return a crispy critter was to stuff it into a jar?  Insensitive, by all standards.  Outside of protocol (of asking the family for instructions on the disposition of the body), by all means.

But a conspiracy?  Sorry, but the number of people who woud have to be in on it and kept from talking just does not support that.  (How many people here think a coroner even knows how to get a body from the morgue to the crematorium?  Raise your hands.  How many think a clerk will not notice that the body they logged in is not logged out?  Raise your hands.  How many folks think the cadaver-delivery union driver will not file a grievance when some non-union punk drives off with a stiff?  Raise your hands.)

I'm going with insensitive reaching the level of stoopid.

If McCrystal or The Army or someone wanted him gone they should have hired the Clintons to Vince Foster the guy.

stay safe.

[RevDisk]

It looks too obvious to be a real conspiracy. IF it IS a conspiracy, such folks need to be shot on grounds of incompetence and complete lack of professionalism.

[CNYCacher]

It looks too obvious to be a real conspiracy.

Exactly! 

[RoadKingLarry]

It looks too obvious to be a real conspiracy. IF it IS a conspiracy, such folks need to be shot on grounds of incompetence and complete lack of professionalism.

Sounds a lot like the Obama administration in action

[Regolith]

It looks too obvious to be a real conspiracy.

That's what They want you to think! 

[Tallpine]

Someone urned an ash whipping.

[Regolith]

Someone urned an ash whipping.

 

 

[RoadKingLarry]

When my mom passed dad decided on cremation. after the funeral services the fneral director brought the urn to me. I laid it on the seat of my pickup for our family trip to the little country cemetary where we were going to bury the urn in her plot. When my wife got in the truck she didn't see it and was leaning over putting her belt on with her hand on the big brass urn and asked me where it was. You would have thought she had just been told she had her hand on a copper head.

 

[lee n. field]

Just to point out, that it's troublesome to ship a body.  If the body is in no condition to be viewed, and would need to be shipped, local cremation would probably be the best option.   

[vaskidmark]

Just to point out, that it's troublesome to ship a body.  If the body is in no condition to be viewed, and would need to be shipped, local cremation would probably be the best option.   

Pro'lly so, but usually the family gets to have a say in the matter.

AFAIK there is no law against displaying a crispy critter in the funeral home parlor - if you can pay one enough to agree to let you do it.  Never actually seen it done, but have seen a number of displays of body bags with the "Human Remains Not Suitable for Viewing" tag propped up so folks did not have to lean over to read it.  I have attended a funeral for am Orthodox Jew (thus closed casket) who died burned beyond recognition.  Cremation was not allowed by the family for religious reasons to allow for resurrection with the body to be purified of corruption.

But I'm still not seeing a conspiracy - just a lack of professional ethics and a serious lack of empathy.

stay safe.

[Hawkmoon]

Not all funerals are open casket, and not all religions and/or families observe the ritual of "viewings" prior to a funeral. My family (as far as I know) has never ever had a viewing or a wake, and has never had an open casket funeral. My upbringing was that such is considered to be morbid and maudlin.

I can't imagine any family even considering an open casket funeral or a viewing for someone who was mangled or badly burned. The whole point is to have a last view of the person looking as peaceful and serene as you hope they will be for eternity thereafter, so viewers will be able to take that memory away with them.