Daughter found dead in hospital morgue and files lawsuit

A California family's search for their missing daughter has taken a tragic turn, revealing that the 31-year-old woman had been dead for over a year, according to a negligence lawsuit filed in Sacramento County Superior Court. The lawsuit was filed by the victim's mother and sisters, who are now seeking more than $5 million in damages.

Hospital Discharge and Search

The victim, Jessie Peterson, had been admitted to the Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, California, in April 2023 due to a diabetic episode related to her Type-1 diabetes. Her family was informed by the hospital that she had been discharged two days later against medical advice. Unable to locate her, the family reported her missing to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and subsequently embarked on a relentless search for her.

After a year of searching, the Peterson family received devastating news from detectives, revealing that Jessie's body was found at the hospital where it had been stored in an off-site warehouse morgue for over a year. The lawsuit states that Jessie's body had decomposed to the extent that an open casket funeral was not feasible, and her fingerprints were not obtainable for any keepsake. Furthermore, her body was so discolored that her tattoos could not be identified.

Death Certificate and Autopsy Concerns

Peterson's death certificate, completed more than a year after her death, stated that she died from cardiopulmonary arrest at the age of 31. Due to the lack of a timely notice of death, an autopsy to determine if medical malpractice contributed to her death was impossible, leading to further distress for her family.

In response to this tragic turn of events, Peterson's family is pursuing legal action against the hospital, seeking over $5 million in damages. Dignity Health, the operator of Mercy San Juan Medical Center, has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.

This heartbreaking incident has left Peterson's family devastated and continues to raise questions about the protocols and communication within the healthcare system.