Police respond after photo of open casket in park goes viral

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Police on the east side of the state used their detective skills to crack another case: “The Case of the Open Casket.”

The Warren Police Department took to social media to explain a photo circulating online that showed an open casket on display in one of the city’s parks.

According to police, the photo was taken at Butcher Park in Warren. When they first saw it, they responded to the scene, but the casket was already gone.

Thanks to some tips from the public, they were able to connect the casket with a funeral director from New York. They were transporting the remains of a 97-year-old woman who had died in New York and was set to be buried in a cemetery in Detroit.

“The deceased was a lifelong Warren resident who passed away in New York. Several of the deceased’s family members live near Butcher Park. The Funeral Director temporarily situated the casket in the park so that the deceased’s family members could say their final goodbyes,” WPD said in a statement .

Investigators confirmed with The Detroit News that no crime was committed and that they appreciated the cooperation from the funeral director and the woman’s family. Still, they recommended a heads-up next time.

“The Warren Police Department respects the wishes of the deceased and her family members during their time of mourning,” the statement read. “While parks in the City of Warren are intended for recreational purposes, we would ask that the public please contact City Hall or the Police Department in advance if requesting a viewing at a city park so that we can ensure the necessary protocols are respected.”

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