#Socialites, a Texas funeral home, is setting the record straight and making some serious changes after two disturbing incidents went viral — including one involving a young employee allegedly clout-chasing with casket photos.
According to KPRC 2, a 21-year-old male employee at Alexander’s Mortuary in Highlands, TX, was fired after he was caught posting images of himself posing with caskets — one image even shows him holding a gun in front of a closed coffin. “We’re going to give him a little grace, but he has to suffer the consequences: termination,” said Derek Anderson, a mortuary staff member, during a press interview following the incident.
The photos were reportedly uploaded to the employee’s social media accounts in an attempt to gain views and potentially monetize his content, which has sparked outrage and forced the funeral home to call an emergency media conference.
It Gets Worse: Non-Employee Films Deceased Woman, Disrespects Cremation Protocol
As if that weren’t disturbing enough, another incident surfaced involving a non-employee woman who was invited to cut the hair of a deceased man at the family’s request before the service. But instead of respectfully performing the task, she filmed the body, then shockingly turned the camera to a second deceased woman being prepared for cremation.
“The lady that you see in the box that’s uncovered, that lady was covered up. She uncovered her, took her out of the box,” said Anderson.
The clip — which was allegedly posted online — deeply disturbed the family and the funeral home staff. The woman has been banned from the facility, and legal action is now being taken.
Owner Speaks Out: “She Violated Our Trust”
Melvin Alexander, the owner of Alexander’s Mortuary, says the violation of both professional boundaries and basic human decency cut deep. “She violated our trust. We know her. She’s been here before to do work. I am deeply hurt and sad,” he said.
Alexander confirmed that a police report has been filed, and that the woman will no longer be allowed to return to the mortuary under any circumstance.
The funeral home has also tightened policies and is reviewing how outside personnel are allowed to enter and operate within the facility to ensure this never happens again.