Canarsie family claims dead body was not picked up due to negligence from medical examiner's office

A Canarsie family claims that their mother had laid dead in their home for 24 hours due to delay from the medical examiner's office as coronavirus sweeps across New York City.

News 12 Staff

Mar 31, 2020, 2:24 AM

Updated 1,493 days ago

Share:

A Canarsie family claims that their mother had laid dead in their home for 24 hours due to delay from the medical examiner's office as coronavirus sweeps across New York City.
Lakisha Brian says her mother, 49-year-old Sophia Dawkins, appeared healthy to the family but was sick for about a week. She says Dawkins visited a doctor last Tuesday and had a follow-up scheduled for Monday.
Brian says her sister screamed a little after 8 p.m. Sunday, saying that their mother stopped breathing. When she went to perform CPR, her mother's body was cold to the touch.
They called 911, who responded but say they were told to wait four to five hours for the medical examiner. Nearly 24 hours later, the body was still at the home.
The family says staff from the medical examiner's office showed up around 6:30 p.m. Monday, but told Brian they had to wait for a truck and left.
Brian says they tried calling 311 several times as well, but were redirected several times. She says funeral homes told her they can't lay Dawkins to rest until the medical examiner responded.
The NYPD tells News 12 that it has no information on this particular case at this time.
In relation to the death of Caridad Santiago, the MTA cleaner, the NYPD says that proper protocol was not followed and that the matter is under internal review.
 


More from News 12
1:47
Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

2:08
Partly sunny, light breeze for Friday in the Hudson Valley; afternoon showers for Saturday

Partly sunny, light breeze for Friday in the Hudson Valley; afternoon showers for Saturday

0:36
Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

1:44
Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

1:02
Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

0:32
Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

0:30
Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

0:46
New Rochelle business owner pleads guilty to wage violations

New Rochelle business owner pleads guilty to wage violations

0:23
Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

2:17
Home Depot ban on solicitation impacts day laborers in New Rochelle

Home Depot ban on solicitation impacts day laborers in New Rochelle

2:22
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

0:55
Headlines: Child pornography charges, drug dealing guilty plea, cocaine possession sentencing

Headlines: Child pornography charges, drug dealing guilty plea, cocaine possession sentencing

0:33
Woman faces charges for selling weight loss drugs on TikTok without license

Woman faces charges for selling weight loss drugs on TikTok without license

0:28
SPCA Westchester launches first mobile adoption unit

SPCA Westchester launches first mobile adoption unit

0:19
Cross County Center launches 70th anniversary celebration with expanded summer fest

Cross County Center launches 70th anniversary celebration with expanded summer fest

0:26
Rockland residents honor fallen heroes in national weeklong event

Rockland residents honor fallen heroes in national weeklong event

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

1:44
Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

1:22
Pro-Palestinian protests make their way to SUNY New Paltz campus

Pro-Palestinian protests make their way to SUNY New Paltz campus