A Trust Betrayed After Unthinkable Loss (Image Credits: Pexels)
Las Vegas – Parents of a toddler who drowned shortly after turning one have launched a lawsuit against a defunct local funeral home, claiming her body endured months in shocking storage conditions.[1][2]
A Trust Betrayed After Unthinkable Loss
Autumn Serna passed away on June 29, 2024, from drowning just weeks past her first birthday. Her devastated parents, including mother Alyssa Serna, turned to McDermott’s Funeral Home and Cremation Services for cremation arrangements. They sought solace in bringing their daughter home as ashes, avoiding the pain of a traditional burial.
The family applied for assistance through Clark County Social Services to cover costs. McDermott’s owner, Chris Grant, repeatedly followed up but delayed processing. Tensions escalated in October 2024 when Grant presented a stark ultimatum: declare the body abandoned or pay the balance in cash.[2]
Horrific Discoveries Prompt Shutdown
State inspectors uncovered a nightmare at McDermott’s in summer 2025. Coolers held multiple bodies, some leaking fluids that contaminated others below. Officials labeled the conditions deplorable, leading to the revocation of the business’s licenses on August 15, 2025.
Authorities recovered 146 bodies from the site, transferring them to Davis Funeral Home amid chaos. Some remained on the street in scorching heat over 110 degrees, accelerating decomposition. Clark County ended its contract with McDermott’s, which had handled indigent cases.[1][2]
Autumn’s Case Emerges from the Debris
McDermott’s finally cremated Autumn’s remains on November 4, 2024 – over four months after her death. The family received the ashes without a standard identifying metal tag, fueling fears the cremains might not belong to their daughter. State reports confirmed her body shared the tainted cooler with others.
Alyssa Serna expressed profound grief. “Losing anybody is hard, but losing your child is horrible,” she said. “She unfortunately drowned, and it was a horrible situation. I didn’t want to imagine her in a tiny coffin. I just wanted her home with me.”[1]
Wave of Lawsuits Signals Wider Scandal
Autumn’s parents filed their negligence suit in early March 2026, joining others targeting McDermott’s. Families of Dora Gonzalez and Mixon Fischele pursued claims after similar delays and mishandling. Gonzalez’s body sat uncremated until September 2025; Fischele’s decomposed post-transfer, ruining open-casket plans.
Amanda White sued in February 2026 over her son Devin Magallon’s delayed cremation and death certificate.[3]
- June 29, 2024: Autumn Serna dies.
- October 10, 2024: Owner demands cash or abandonment.
- November 4, 2024: Cremation occurs.
- August 2025: Inspectors shut down McDermott’s.
- March 2026: Toddler’s family sues.
Key Takeaways
- McDermott’s stored Autumn’s body over four months amid leaking coolers deemed deplorable by inspectors.
- No ID tag accompanied cremains, sparking identity doubts.
- At least four lawsuits now challenge the funeral home’s practices, exposing systemic failures.
This case underscores the vulnerability families face when entrusting loved ones to care providers. As courts review these claims, one question lingers: how many more stories hide behind closed doors? What do you think about this unfolding scandal? Share in the comments.
