Texas man learns of brother's death through NBC News report exposing unclaimed body list

[@ShitikaBrown]

This story is unbelievable.someone needs to be held accountable for this .treating people like they are garbage

[@sigiloXXX]

Human meat market! 😱

[@dannym8472]

The lack of attempt to reach out to the family is not okay. Just because its not you doesnt mean its not hurtful for someone else

[@AnnOno-i7m]

"Do no harm" . . . Unless you can do it without people knowing??

[@JuliaWeber-o7q]

I agree

[@Hwgt888]

The state only requires you reach out a certain amount of time before the remains become the states property.

[@medusagorgon9]

They fired the people running a program that they authorized! Come on now! The families should get together and sue because this is just a drop in the ocean.

[@SIGNALFREQ]

Trying to save the lawsuit 🤫

[@Hatbox948]

They use cadaver pituitary glands to make human growth hormone. To sell that commercially they'd need lots of pituitary glands from lots of cadavers. It's not hard to figure out how they manage it.

[@IzzyKawaiichi]

Pretty sure this could constitute abuse of a corpse.

[@AnnOno-i7m]

"Leasing" human bodies shouldn't be a thing, no matter the status of it. Period.

[@sukhvindermangat1087]

Especially for PROFIT!!!

[@TheSuperPsychoKiller]

Especially when they are dead and can’t give consent.

[@vcwloves9864]

For profit, agreed. However, those bodies contribute to science more than you know. To say that it should not be done under any circumstance is too unrealistic. This is how medicine advances.

[@Kiddly3000]

there is a big difference between donating and this behaver of stealing bodies for medical use

[@farmingpoet]

Its slavery after death. Not even calling relatives to inform them?! It's shameful and evil. Evil because money is involved... Its always money leading the reasoning.

[@LinkRocks]

Perfect way to describe it.

[@brendaanne0810]

They had his name. Why didn't they reach out just a little further to find their next of kin. Even a friend of the person, could notify family. This is unbelievable...💔

[@Smw006]

$$$ They profited from not reaching out to the family.

[@lbr88x30]

Because they wanted to make the sale

[@LoisEdler]

This is beyond disgusting, disgraceful, and everyone involved should go to prison

[@Jamesssssssssssssss]

I'm so sorry to hear this. My brother is one of my favorite people of all time. I know that once one of us passes the other will be devastated.

[@ChannelCreator]

How lucky you are to have that relationship ❤

[@SailorCallie]

How could they get away with this? Using unclaimed bodies for research and NOT notify the families is very despicable.

[@Chulitatr]

Sue the university for mutilation of a corpse and theft of corpse.

[@RaeBattleRapsMood]

And pain and suffering!

[@fallenskybird]

Medicine is about healing --- not capitalism. It's likely they invested a lot more effort into finding buyers for his brother's body parts than searching for his next of kin ---- he could lawyer up and file a multi-axis lawsuit against the hospital on desecration of a body, theft of a body, and resultant emotional trauma.

[@RoseNZieg]

bodies for medical learning are as old as the profession. you are naive.

[@celieboo]

You are clearly not aware of how the US healthcare works. It is purely for profit. It is disgusting..

[@celieboo]

The US healthcare system is purely about capitalism and profit, not healing.

[@LearningCurves123]

@@RoseNZieg AFTER contacting next of kin. They didn't do that.

[@mommynab]

It's not that hard given he had a brother in the same state. A simple Google search could have given them a few options for relatives. My brother died in Florida, the police went to my step mother's house. It's just human decency to try.

[@fallonparks1883]

This is not ok prayers for all the families 😢❤

[@drkneevil]

How embarrassing from these rich hospitals

[@someonewhoknows1000]

They won't care unless enough people care to impact their P&L'S. I feel sorry for him and others this happened too.

[@donnathomas9111]

Gross disrespect

[@Mrsquick]

What has happened to morals??? This is so disheartening and heartbreaking! The audacity to send a thank you letter is crazy! I hope each and every person files a federal lawsuit against EVERYONE involved! My heart goes out to the families.

[@Smw006]

Look at how many people are profiting from those bodies and their parts - of course they don't want to contact families if they don't have to do so.

[@wayIess]

Really gross to hear how they're selling pieces of people like they're commodities.

[@headstonesandheadlines]

Horrifying. And shame on these people for not respecting the dead.

[@kedra626]

This is sick

[@AnnOno-i7m]

No pun intended.

[@9liveslisa]

This should never happen.

[@wayIess]

Feel bad for that mother too. Her daughter was reduced to price tags like merchandise on a shelf without her knowledge. Not ok.

[@carriefox1146]

Reporters bring to light what the world needs to know.

[@ivanjones8144]

This type of for profit venture could quickly lead to nefarious actions by persons and companies.

[@XactlyCeSe1]

This is thievery. That poor mother finding out her daughters body was chopped up and sold 😢 To see the price list was so macabre

[@erinrow399]

I appreciate they asked him about his brother in life and gave him the chance to talk about him. That’s horrible those monsters sold humans like that. Many folks are happy to donate their bodies, to sell humans who never consented to that is disgusting.

[@martin8159]

Horrible.

[@aheimdahl5201]

There needs to be more Federal oversight of the Death Industry.

[@JuliaWeber-o7q]

I agree we we know that the bodies are in their coffins that's horrible I think they should not claim them

[@justine7083]

Don't hold your breath. It will go in the other direction in the next few years.

[@fromtheblock213]

And they call criminals criminals crazy

[@edgarkoen1230]

Greed

[@manichairdo9265]

My heart crumbled listening to Tim speak of Dale.😢 Is it possible to find his death certificate or any further information about him like hospital or medical records, etc. With almost 2000 deceased people, perhaps the families of missing persons may find their loved ones were taken by this corrupt industry, too.

[@kaisaan5]

This is why you need to keep in touch with your family sad

[@jonlloyd3020]

Disgusting and disrespectful

[@KB_-_]

Your body should never be used for something you did not consent to, dead or alive.

[@RaeBattleRapsMood]

It’s disgusting how these poor people that have deceased’s were treated! Just imagine…a lot of people go missing daily probably because of organ and body stealing! This is just ONE situation where they were caught!

[@thesweetestteas.4534]

So who receives the money from these " donations" ??? All the money made plus damages should go to the families, not that it would ease their pain but those who wronged them shouldn't be allowed to benefit from it!

[@Susannenc]

They could have used an existing employee or hired an additional one to do some research. It probably wouldn’t have been that difficult using existing resources to find these people’s families. It’s not like they were unidentified bodies.

[@LearningCurves123]

Even Jane Doe's and John Doe's are treated with much more respect. They should have tried to contact the families. They failed to do so!

[@GoodessLotts]

Chucky Leggett thank you so much for all your help I truly appreciate you

[@LazyIRanch]

I might be a distant relative of Tim Leggett and his family, "Leggett" was my grandmother's maiden name, and she was born and raised in N Texas. I was born in Dallas. It's not a very common name. I'd be honored to be this man's kinfolk, he seems like a sweet person with deep compassion for others. My only brother still lives in the Dallas area, but he disowned me back in 2015 over religion and "politics". I've tried reaching out to him, but he unfriended me on Facebook and changed his phone number. He told one of our cousins that I am "dead to him", but wouldn't explain why he felt that way. Learning about that hurts me to my core and I wish she hadn't told me. I thought he was just too busy to talk to me, but no, he really hates me and I don't know why. We used to be very close.😢 If Tim Leggett wants another extended family member, I sure would like to have a brother again, even if we aren't related!

[@bellis8204]

Good God. This is just one step up from grave robbing.

[@risslah]

A very most horrific way to find out the death of a loved one. I found out recently that my father had passed away because I was looking up his name on the Internet. My heart is breaking for this man and the other unknown families. I am so very sorry that they have to go through this and the family’s waiting for their loved one to come home…. And they just never know because of cases like this.

[@760mom]

Body broker? Wow

[@pattiraefrye]

Greed over compassion for humans needs to stop!

[@mr.iforgot3062]

That's the most profound thing I've ever heard someone say. Letting those ashes free. Whomever they are.

[@DawnNa_22]

This is horrific. I’m so sorry this family had to go through this.

[@Hatbox948]

This just sickens me, especially the part about monetizing body parts.

[@Dub0r]

That is disgusting. Everyone involved should be arrested and thrown in jail.

[@annburchard6199]

WOW! I am so sorry this happened to you and your family! I have donated my body for medical training @ Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. This is my wish that I had put in my trust. This Texas's way of dealing with the most vulnerable. Praying for you and your family.

[@LazyIRanch]

That is an excellent idea! I am well aware of Loma Linda hospital system and that they have the best quality of care in S. California. I live about 30 miles from there. I hadn't really thought about making arrangements to dispose of my ol' meat suit once I don't need it anymore, but now I'm going to look into also donating it to Loma Linda Med Center. Thanks for the tip! The late John Prine is my favorite musician since I was a teen back in the 1970s in N. Texas. He wrote a song promoting the donations of organs after death called "Please Don't Bury Me" that would make a great (and funny!) PSA to remind people to sign up to be a donor. One of my favorite songs of all time! _… But please don't bury me_ _Down in that cold cold ground_ _No, I'd druther have 'em cut me up_ _And pass me all around_ _Throw my brain in a hurricane_ _And the blind can have my eyes_ _And the deaf can take both of my ears_ _If they don't mind the size!_ 😜

[@fandyllic1975]

How very Texas.

[@Sofie-r6c]

How did he not reach out his brother first instead of looking at a list of dead people, is the real question....

[@DR-mq1vn]

Yeah, I want to know this too. Why didn't he keep in contact with his brother? If he hadn't heard from his brother, why didn't he call the police to do a wellness check?

[@wildyoda2931]

Not everyone communicates frequently like some of you may be used to. Some people have siblings and family members they haven’t spoken to in months or years. As to why he looked at the list I believe it was God that put it in his mind to look for his brother on there otherwise he would have never found out what happened to him.

[@Sofie-r6c]

@@wildyoda2931 So you’re saying that if it wasn’t for a list, he would have never called him? That was his only way of knowing anything about what is going on with his own brother? What is this, the 17th century? In fact, if he was in touch with his brother, it may have prevented his suicide since he may not have had anyone in his life and felt all alone.

[@rhondaandrews613]

How utterably horrible!!!!

[@tea98988]

Texas…. Glad I left decades ago.

[@LazyIRanch]

Me too! I left Texas in 2001, and I will never go back there. My father was murdered by a mentally ill man who thought my dad was using his backyard ham radio antenna to record and control the crazy man's "thoughts". Crazy man wrote a manifesto of sorts, that made no sense, but it included a hit list and my name was on it. I not only left Texas, I went to court and legally changed my name to the most ubiquitous name I could think of so that it's shared by millions of other women. The court was also able to get all recent credit info of mine deleted, so I didn't leave a trail when I moved over 1500 miles away. He wasn't convicted of murder, never went to trial because the local cops "lost" all the DNA evidence, AND they "lost" the only eyewitness to the shooting. He is still free today, not locked up as he should be.

[@roxannecab]

This so horrible!!!!! The worst way to find out about a loved one. Where I do not appreciate about this is the money over respect to someone’s loved ones respect somebody’s own body that isn’t their own. These cadavers are actual humans beings and had a family so why shouldn’t you do your diligence and be a part of humanity itself and try notifying families or at least try to see, if the cadaver has any family that they might want to know about their passing and their loved ones. How is that so hard. They don’t care because it’s all about the money for them. Disgusting about this whole thing. They don’t see the human soul they see the money. Disgusting. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[@YourRoyalMajesty.]

May Dale rest in Love and Light 💖🕯️

[@Do-U-SmellThat]

That guy hasn't talked to his brother in years that is sad

[@ladykristalginn6]

This is so tragic! 😢

[@StayLytt]

It's disgusting the things people see an do in a workplace in America these days an not bat an eye. Sickening what money can buy

[@TillyMint1983]

They are literally modern-day body snatchers. This should not be legal. I hope the family members sue because there was no consent given for the bodies to be used in that way. Those responsible didn't even try to inform the families of their loved ones passing, never mind getting their permission to trade their body parts.

[@kimberlybustle5398]

Unethical..and selling body parts? Criminal..beyond words..

[@SelenaKnight-n7h]

Absolutely sick and sickening. Always stay in touch with family members.

[@LinkRocks]

This is awful. I'm so sorry to the families.

[@rilly1347]

This is just way too horrible. People need to be held accountable for this. RIP Dale and other innocent victims. 😞

[@cheryl5994]

THAT'S JUST HEART-WRENCHING.

[@Christophertracy09]

They used the excuse of the young woman’s family being out of the country in Venezuela to use her corpse. SMH.

[@210SETX]

This is very very sad!!

[@baqaqipekhebi7148]

Terrible! Capitalism at its worst!

[@BonaKim-hd8ec]

Lawyer up!

[@tradingblueforgreen963]

This more common than you think and it’s been going on for 25 years

[@bethanywashington1243]

Even father back then that. But not they just take the so called unclaimed. Before they would take them from the graves.

[@silentcomanche6987]

The rich don't care about the poor people and it really shows. These rich companies need to move out of our system, the greed is unreal.

[@BaverlyDelgado]

This is Sick 😫

[@JudiKerestan]

Why did the brorther never try to fiond his brother when he was alive> So sad,,and then to be sold for parts like a used car???? OMG

[@StarShine-xt6vk]

Oh wow, this poor man! And shame on this university or place that was doing this!

[@user-pn9db8sm5w]

I have been aware of people donating their bodies to science for medical schools to teach doctors, I have an uncle who did this. I've worked in different medical jobs through my life, so it didn't seem so odd to me. I wasn't aware unknown people who pass away are somehow put in this system. As for my Uncle there was no funeral, as he made arrangements before death. Someone said his body would be returned to the family after about 6 months, for burial. It left me with a strange empty feeling, like there was no closure, no "goodbyes".

[@sherrilaird6535]

Wow just WOW! How long was this going on before they got caught!

[@BaverlyDelgado]

This is so sad. Your Brother is a Beautiful Person ❤ ❤❤❤❤R.I.P 🙏🙏🕊

[@ydoicare2000]

So how did he not communicate with the brother ?

[@allie5909]

I wouldn't want all those ghosts haunting me for misusing their bodies for profit.

[@Amanda-qz3zh]

There shouldn’t have to be a law to prevent the stealing and selling of body parts. It’s just not right.

[@natalieroy4849]

This is the result of living in a society that prioritizes profit above everything else.

[@JoshuaFrick3]

*Appalling* doesn't even begin to describe how disgusting this is. Swift action needs to be taken, so nothing like this ever happens again.

[@IamKarryanne]

This is disgraceful…my goodness

[@victorious3926]

Absolutely, not.They should not be used without at least trying to find and notify the family first.To get their permission.You should not be using people's bodies just because they have not been claimed.If you want to use that body it is your job to find out about the family or the deceased families.

[@kirkjones9827]

Sounds like a lawsuit.

[@andreacalkins5189]

I often wonder if this is what happened to my brother. I had been searching for him for years only to discover on a website "Find a Grave," that he had died. We don't know the particulars, only that he was cremated. He had liver cancer and a lot of things wrong so I doubt his body parts were sold. Maybe experimented with, don't know and we'll never know.

[@Hatbox948]

If you know the county and State he died in you can request a copy of his death certificate from that county. It might shed light on what happened.

[@andreacalkins5189]

@@Hatbox948 We found out where he died, in a VA hospital. My mother was 94 when she found out and she wrote a letter to the doctor. She never heard back from him.

[@Hatbox948]

@@andreacalkins5189 I'm not surprised. Vets are treated so badly now. At least the death certificate would say why he died. There's usually a small fee when requesting a death certificate. My sister and her husband actually donated their bodies to "science". I'm horrified by that.

[@natashaboles2223]

Even though tragic, i just eant to know, seriously, why didnt the family chech on their family? What was the time frame of passing and the families speaking? Sad all around

[@ImNotCallingYouALiar]

Family dynamics can be complicated. He said his brother was a loner. There’s always more to it but I’m sure he wasn’t trying to air out their business. Seems like he probably did try to reach out to his brother and never heard back which is what led him to check for his brother’s name.

[@lbishop1990]

My goodness 😞

[@justine7083]

More regulations? That's not going to happen in the near future. In fact, it will go in the other direction..

[@MaryLee-t6s]

The Centers receiving the bodies should do a background check on the one giving them the bodies The Centers should also do background checks on the bodies that they receive

[@shaf60]

Did you ask the dead if you could disect them ?

[@BruceSpires]

Heart wrenching.

[@mollyharfoush2655]

That pretty much says it all about Americas health crisis and how medicine is big business, BIG MONEY, and very little care from the ones in charge. It leaves the staff to handle the fallout from their lack of care. A 23 year ER Nurse speaking

[@eltomas3634]

When the "medical" industrial complex treats humans as nothing special, nothing sacred, people involved will act accordingly. When life is taken and the act referred to as "health care" people involved will act accordingly. Don't be surprised by these agencies sick actions, their own practices shows they believe human bodies are mere a commodity. Human life is either sacred or it's not.

[@traceygray7727]

I’m so sorry for the families

[@sig9girl]

Tragic! Lawsuits!!

[@GoodessLotts]

God thank you for freeing their Souls and healing for all the families

[@megamankeht6098]

This is the most human thing ever, not even attempting to reach out to family’s.. then selling off body parts for profit. This is why people look at medical professionals as cold, not because you’re doing your job and you deal with so much you have to filter some of it out to get by. Not it’s stories like this is why.

[@BabeRuth1978]

Seems like a "RICO" case to me, there are a lot of levers involved to move a body over state lines..

[@pattih7]

Terrible shock! Very sorry you or someone close, we’re not contacted! 🙏🧡🙏🧡🙏

[@LauraMason-u4y]

This is absolutely horrific! These poor souls and families.

[@ttru]

This is really heartbreaking 😢. Thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

[@plane1880]

Another reminder to call your family and keep in touch

[@ELA-dy1pt]

SMH!! This is sooo wrong!!