WARREN, Mich. — A suburban Detroit park with baseball fields, a playground and picnic tables had an unusual addition this week: an open casket containing the body of a 97-year-old woman who used to live in the area.
Police in Warren fielded calls from curious residents, especially after a photo was posted Tuesday on social media. Some people wondered if it was a very early Halloween prank. Officials said plans for the viewing at Butcher Park weren’t disclosed ahead of time.
Madonna Stiller’s family said they simply wanted to honor her before her burial that day in Detroit. A viewing at a local funeral home apparently wasn’t possible after the body was transported to Michigan. She died in Wellsville, New York, on Aug. 29.
“The funeral director temporarily situated the casket in the park so that the deceased’s family members could say their final goodbyes prior to her burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery,” police said Thursday.
A photo on Facebook showed an open casket and a spray of flowers under large leafy trees. A man sat nearby at a picnic table.
“We just wanted to honor my mother,” Stiller’s son, Ken Stiller, told The Macomb Daily. “We didn’t mean to cause any problems and didn’t mean for it to be in the newspaper.”
City officials said a park can’t automatically be a place for open caskets.
“We would ask that the public please contact City Hall or the Police Department in advanced if requesting a viewing at a city park so that we can ensure the necessary protocols are respected,” police said.
Residents in a suburban Detroit community were left shocked and disturbed after an open casket was discovered in a local park, prompting multiple calls to the police. The unsettling discovery was made by a jogger early in the morning, who immediately contacted authorities to report the unusual sight.
The open casket, which appeared to be old and weathered, was found near a playground in the park, surrounded by scattered flowers and candles. Police arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the calls and began investigating the mysterious occurrence.
Investigators quickly determined that the casket was empty, leading them to believe that it had been abandoned rather than containing a body. However, the presence of the casket in a public park raised numerous questions and concerns among residents in the area.
Many residents expressed their shock and confusion over the bizarre discovery, with some speculating about the possible motives behind leaving an open casket in a public place. Some suggested that it could be a prank or a form of protest, while others feared it could be linked to criminal activity.
Local authorities assured the community that they were taking the incident seriously and conducting a thorough investigation to determine who was responsible for leaving the casket in the park. They urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist in their efforts to solve the mystery.
The presence of an open casket in a suburban Detroit park has sparked fear and unease among residents, highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities. As the investigation into this unsettling incident continues, residents are encouraged to stay informed and take precautions to ensure their safety and well-being.
