News Summary
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office has apologized for a significant error involving the misidentification and cremation of a body. The incident, which occurred on June 23, led to a family’s distress and prompted immediate reporting to relevant authorities. The Coroner, Darryl Ables, acknowledged the gravity of the situation and confirmed that an internal review will be conducted to prevent future errors. The meticulous protocols for verifying identities before cremation are under scrutiny in response to this serious oversight.
Aiken, South Carolina – The Aiken County Coroner’s Office has issued an apology following a grave mishap involving the misidentification and cremation of a body. The incident occurred when a body was mistakenly released to a funeral home for cremation on June 23, 2025, and the error was discovered just one day later, on June 24.
The Aiken County Coroner, Darryl Ables, expressed deep remorse for the situation, acknowledging the devastating impact this mistake has had on the family of the deceased. The Coroner’s Office took immediate action upon discovering the error, reporting the incident to the Aiken County Attorney’s Office, the South Carolina Coroners’ Association, and the South Carolina Funeral Directors’ Association. Due to the involvement of a funeral home and a crematory, the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation was also notified.
As part of standard procedure, the process of releasing a body for cremation requires multiple verification steps to ensure accuracy. The Aiken County Coroner’s Office follows a strict protocol that includes the utilization of an intake/release log. This log must be verified and signed by both the coroner’s staff and the agency assuming custody of the body. Identification tags containing important information such as the deceased’s name, time of death, and case number are affixed to the remains, which are then documented in the log.
The next of kin must select a licensed funeral home and provide authorization for cremation through a cremation authorization form, in addition to obtaining a cremation permit from the coroner’s office. Furthermore, the coroner must issue a burial-removal-transit permit, which facilitates the transportation of the body. Prior to cremation, funeral home staff are obligated to confirm the identity of the deceased using photo or tag verification to prevent such errors from occurring.
Although the precise details of how this error occurred have yet to be disclosed, Ables stated that the incident highlights the critical nature of accurate identification and verification throughout the entire process. In response to this alarming oversight, the Aiken County Coroner’s Office will undergo an internal review to examine its current protocols and implement safeguards to ensure this type of error does not reoccur.
The name of the funeral home involved in this incident has not been publicly disclosed. A representative from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation was contacted for further information but emphasized that any complaints filed regarding the incident remain confidential under South Carolina law.
This incident underscores the importance of meticulous procedures and protocols in the handling of deceased individuals. The Aiken County Coroner’s Office assures the public that measures will be taken to enhance the reliability and accuracy of its operations going forward.
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Additional Resources
- WRDW: Aiken County Coroner’s Office Makes Mistake with Body
- WIS TV: SC Coroner’s Office Says It Accidentally Sent Body to be Cremated
- Augusta Chronicle: Aiken Coroner’s Office Releases Wrong Body for Unapproved Cremation
- Wikipedia: Coroner
- Google Search: Aiken County Coroners Office cremation incident
