A Michigan mother is speaking out five years after a terrifying incident in which her daughter, Timesha Beauchamp, was mistakenly declared dead and nearly embalmed. Beauchamp, who had cerebral palsy, was pronounced dead by a doctor over the phone in August 2020, following what was believed to be a medical emergency at her home in Southfield, Michigan.
However, the 20-year-old’s case took a horrifying turn when it was later discovered that she was alive. The declaration of Beauchamp’s death was based on real-time medical data, including her heartbeat and breathing, which was provided by EMS personnel and responding authorities, WXYZ-TV reported on Oct. 14.
According to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office, the initial assessment was made from these readings. However, when Beauchamp was transported to a funeral home in a body bag, her eyes were still open, and she was breathing.
Her mother, Erica Lattimore, is now pursuing legal action against the Southfield Fire Department’s EMS workers for their role in the incident. “That’s devastating to a family already to hear she’s deceased, prepare your mind mentally that you have to prepare a funeral initially, and then to hear someone say, ‘No, your child is alive,'” Lattimore said during a press conference on October 14.
Lattimore’s attorneys believe that Beauchamp’s breathing was severely restricted during the period when she was thought to be dead and transported to the funeral home. They suggest that this may have contributed to her actual death two months later, per WDIV-TV.
Attorneys Jennifer Damico and Steven Hurbis of Fieger Law have expressed frustration with the prolonged legal process, noting that the family has faced several delays. “The family has been denied their day in court because of three postponements of the trial,” the attorneys said.
They also criticized the government’s “gamesmanship” and the delay tactics used, which, according to them, have allowed the defendants to avoid accountability. Despite these setbacks, Lattimore remains determined to seek justice for her daughter.
“I’m not giving up,” she said. “I will go through the long haul, however long it takes. She lived 20 years. If it takes 20 more years for this to get heard in court and God gives me the breath, I’m there.” This heartbreaking case highlights the devastating consequences of a misdiagnosis, as well as the ongoing legal battle for accountability.