August 1, 2020
By: Deborah Childress
GIBSONTON, Fla. – A Gibsonton couple is traumatized from the disappearance of their deceased newborn son’s body while in the care of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. They have filed a lawsuit of alleged negligence and malice against the Baycare Health system affiliate.
Jacob Wesley Wilson, was born February 25, 2020, and died in the care of the St. Joseph’s Hospital-North three days later. His parents, Kathryn D. and Travis W. Wilson prepared for funeral arrangements for their son, only to discover that proceeding an off-site autopsy, their son’s body was returned to the hospital and left on a stretcher in the morgue where it disappeared.
The Wilson’s never buried Jacob, as he was never found.
On July 9, 2020, two counts describing negligence and malice were filed against St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, Fla., including “Negligent Handling of Jacob Wesley Wilson’s Body,” and “Reckless Infliction of Emotional Distress.” The lawsuit states that “the conduct was outrageous as to go beyond all bounds of decency and is regarded odious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.”
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is further accused of disposing of the body, although there is no specific description of how that may have occurred. Douglas K. Burnetti, attorney for the family, further elaborated on the traumatic condition of the Wilsons, stating, “Some or all of the injuries sustained are permanent within a reasonable degree of medical probability.”
Attorney for the Plaintiffs is Douglas K. Burnetti of Lakeland, Florida, and could not be reached for comment on Friday.
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