Mott Haven mom says it's 'impossible' funeral home gave her the correct remains of daughter
R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home was ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution to the families who were impacted.
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A Mott Haven mother says she still does not believe that the remains sent back to her from a funeral home belong to her daughter.
Alexa Guitard was a 20-year-old mother who died of cancer on Sept. 10, 2022.
"I lost my daughter in my arms. I hold her at birth and I lost her at death, and it's not easy," said Yahaira Reyes, Guitard's mother.
Reyes says it's been impossible to find closure. She says her daughter was brought to R.G. Oritz Funeral Home to be cremated in September 2022.
Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months before she received her daughter's ashes at the end of November 2022.
RELATED: DCWP accuses R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes of exploiting grieving families in lawsuit
RELATED: R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes Inc. to pay over $600K in restitution to exploited families
"It's impossible. It's not my daughter, I don't believe it's my daughter," said Reyes.
Reyes is one of dozens of families who say their loved ones' remains were mishandled and, in some cases, misplaced by the funeral home.
Last month, R.G. Ortiz was ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution to the families who were impacted.
"I'm still destroyed, I'm sorry, I'm still destroyed. Nothing's the same as losing my daughter, I'm sorry nothing will cure that," said Reyes.
Guitard's family and friends are now petitioning to get 137th Street and Cyprus avenue renamed in Guitard's memory.
