A woman in Nebraska who was declared dead but later found to be alive at a funeral home has now passed away, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said that 74-year-old Constance Glantz died at a local hospital on Monday around 4 p.m.
“We at the sheriff’s office want to give our condolences to Constance’s friends and family,” he said. “The Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon has ordered an autopsy that will be performed today.”
Houchin mentioned that the autopsy results could take a few weeks, and the sheriff’s office will update the public when the report is completed. An investigation is ongoing.
A funeral home employee noticed that Glantz was still breathing while preparing her body
Glantz lived at The Mulberry at Waverly nursing home in Waverly, Nebraska. She was declared dead at the home just before 10 a.m. Monday.
She was then taken to the Butherus-Maser & Love Funeral Home in Lincoln.
An employee preparing her body noticed that Glantz was still breathing and called first responders. She was immediately sent to the hospital.
Glantz was a hospice patient before being pronounced dead and had been seen by a doctor who signed her death certificate on Monday.
Houchin said that the funeral home is cooperating with the investigation.
“The funeral home did absolutely nothing wrong. They are the ones who found that she was still alive,” Houchin added. “I can’t imagine what her family has gone through, and we are really, really sorry for them to have to deal with this.”
Authorities have notified and been in contact with Glantz’s friends and family.