Houston, Texas
Samantha Askew and her family were excited over the arrival of a baby boy. He was to be named Aaron Jerome Baker.
"The baby shower was scheduled for the next weekend, we had everything for him," Sue Baker said.
But on June 14, Askew was rushed to Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital after her blood pressure spiked. During an emergency surgery, Aaron was delivered stillborn.
"I was really far along; I was eight months," Askew said. "He was ready to be here. To feel that and have that inside of you and it be gone."
The baby’s grandmother called All Faiths Funeral Home on Longpoint and later met with owner Fred Esser. The family paid Esser almost $1,100 to have the baby cremated and to have a funeral service.
"He definitely cashed that check as soon as it was written," Askew said.
But days turned into weeks and the family still didn't have an urn. After Askew decided to check with the crematorium herself, she got some pretty shocking news.
All Faiths Funeral Home lost its license with the state on April 30.
"I was like what do you mean he's not licensed," Askew said. "He's taken our money and was telling me he's doing all these things for me and she's like no mam his doors are supposed to be closed."
According to All Faith’s owner, Fred Esser, it was all ok since he was working with another funeral home named Sunset Funeral Home. However, Victoria Wade, owner of Sunset Funeral Home, denies Essers' claims that she was holding the service, not him. In a prepared statement, Wade said she was assisting Esser as a friend and is now outraged by his actions.
While Esser denies any wrongdoing, The Texas Funeral Commission is now investigating.
"You can't treat people the way you treated us," Askew said. "It's not right in any form especially after the loss of a child."
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