Court documents have revealed a second case of a deceased Alabama inmate whose body was found missing organs.
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Charles Edward Singleton, who passed away on November 2, 2021, while in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections, had his body returned to his family without any organs, including his brain. This distressing revelation follows the recent case of Brandon Dotson, whose heart was discovered missing during a second autopsy commissioned by his family. The families of both inmates have taken legal action, seeking answers and justice.
According to WPDE, Singleton’s body was initially sent to the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s Department of Pathology for an autopsy. Following the procedure, the family requested that the body be sent to a funeral home in Pell City. However, they were informed by the funeral director that preparing the body for viewing would be challenging due to its advanced state of decomposition, described as “advanced skin slippage.” Shockingly, the family was then informed that there were no organs in Singleton’s body, and his brain had been removed.
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Singleton’s family immediately requested that the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) return the missing organs. However, they reported that they never received them. In response to the allegations, UAB issued a statement indicating they do not comment on pending litigation.
“We only conduct autopsies with consent or authorization and follow standard procedures equitably for anyone consented to or authorized for an autopsy. The autopsy practice is accredited by the College of American Pathologists and staffed by credentialed physicians who are certified by the American Board of Pathology. In an autopsy, organs and tissues are removed to best determine the cause of death. Autopsy consent includes consent for final disposition of the organs and tissues; unless specifically requested, organs are not returned to the body. UAB is among providers that – consistent with Alabama law – conduct autopsies of incarcerated persons at the direction of the State of Alabama. A panel of medical ethicists reviewed and endorsed our protocols regarding autopsies conducted for incarcerated persons.”
In response to the growing concerns surrounding these cases, a federal judge has ordered the Alabama Department of Corrections and the Department of Forensic Sciences to submit documents related to Dotson’s state autopsy for review. During a Birmingham hearing, state officials could not explain the missing heart. The families of both Singleton and Dotson are seeking justice, hoping to shed light on the disturbing circumstances surrounding the disappearance of their loved ones’ organs.
