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Remains of infant under care of a Dallas funeral home found at Louisiana business

Police said employees initially thought the baby was a doll.

The remains of an infant that was supposed to be cremated at a Dallas funeral home in May were found at a Shreveport laundry business, police said.

It was determined the infant was a stillborn that died May 3 and was scheduled to be cremated at Golden Gate Funeral Home and Crematory in Dallas, Shreveport police said in a news release.

Golden Gate, run by John Beckwith Jr., declined to comment on the incident to The Dallas Morning News.

Shreveport police found the remains on May 28 at Alsco Uniforms, a uniform rental and laundry service.

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Employees at first thought the remains were a doll wrapped in linens, police said. After getting a closer look, police said the workers realized it was an infant and authorities were contacted.

Police said in the release the infant was mistakenly transported with soiled linens to Shreveport.

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The Texas Funeral Services Commission is investigating how the remains were misplaced and if the funeral home is at fault, police said. Police are also investigating, but said no foul play is suspected.

In 2013, Golden Gate aired episodes of a reality TV show on TLC called Best Funeral Ever that focused on the funeral home.

Golden Gate has been sued more than a dozen times after being accused of negligently handling bodies and remains.

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Families who hired the funeral home said they were given the wrong person’s ashes, some ashes were thrown away, or bodies were left in a decomposed state during viewing, according to court documents.

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