MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis mother is planning to sue a funeral home she claims lost her son’s body.

“I got to hold him kiss him look at him. He had eyes arms and legs. He wasn’t a fetus; he was a baby. He just didn’t make it because he was small,” the mother, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told WREG,

The woman shared her story in hopes it could help other parents.  She said her first baby, Jual, was born premature, weighing one pound one ounce. He didn’t make it through the night, so she planned a burial service for him the next week.

That was until MJ Edwards Funeral home called her to come to their offices immediately.

“When I got there, she said they don’t know where his remains are the day before the burial,” she said.

She says the funeral home told her that since her baby’s body was missing she could opt for a memorial service without the body — or wait to see if Jual’s body turned up.

“I feel like they treated him any kind of way because he was small. You wouldn’t have lost a 50- or 18-year-old,” she said.

As a result, she went to the hospital where she discovered documentation that showed the funeral home picked up her son’s body at 3 a.m. on Aug. 24.

What happens after that remains a mystery.

James Sanders is representing the mother in this case.

“Part of the problem is she doesn’t know had happened,” Sanders said. “There has been no explanation of any kind other than merely saying we lost the body.”

They’re suing the funeral home for negligence.

The firm representing MJ Edwards said that while it’s the prerogative of the family to share this story publicly; they will keep the bond of confidentiality with the family.

However, the young mother said no amount of money will change what she’s been through.

“Next year on August 23, to me, that’s going to be his first birthday. I’m not going to be able to go to the grave-site to visit because I don’t know where he is,” she said.

CORDOVA, Tenn.  – You never know when somebody’s going to walk into your life and change it forever. Actually, for this week’s WREG Pass It On Playmaker, it’s the opposite — she walked into somebody’s life and says she’ll never be the same.

We hope this story will inspire others to do the same, because if you ever doubted you could make a difference, this will prove how wrong that is.

We met playmaker Dale Parker in Cordova. One important thing to know about Dale: she loves Back Yard Burgers.

“I eat there every day practically…love their chicken sandwiches,” she said.

It’s crucial information for our story because that’s where, a year and a half ago, Jacquin Jimison first took Dale’s order and made an impression.

“I kind of started watching him because he’s got such beautiful manners and such a contagious smile. Always happy. Always pleasant. And then when I heard his background, I thought, how in the world can he have this attitude?” Dale said.

Orphaned at a young age, Jimison, as he goes by, was raised by foster parents until he graduated from Germantown High School two years ago.

He had a diploma, but not much else. He was able to walk to apply for a job at Back Yard Burgers, but only making minimum wage meant often sleeping on the floor at a friend’s place, or even in their cars.

But Dale and members at her church, Advent Presbyterian, have come through with clothes, a bicycle, and even a futon for the room he’s now renting that gives him a real address.

The boss who hired him at Back Yard Burgers helped him get a driver’s license, but now that his immediate needs are taken care of, Dale says, “He needs a car in the worst way.”

Having a car isn’t cheap, but without his own transportation, Jimison can’t qualify for Back Yard Burgers’ management training program.

“I am in my late years, but I sure want to help this kid. It’s just become a thing with me,” Dale said.

That’s the Pass It On spirit.

Richard: “So you plan to just walk in there and surprise him in the middle of his shift, huh? I think that’ll be fun to do that. I’ve got to give you $600 dollars first.”

We leave Advent Presbyterian and head a couple of blocks over to Jimison’s work off Dexter Road.

We ask for Jimison, and a minute later, here he comes.

“This is Pass It On. Hold your hand out,” Dale said, then counted out the money.

Jimison’s was in disbelief at first, but when he walked around the counter to thank his friend, he also got some free advice from Richard to “spend the money wisely.”

Jimison later found the words to explain what Dale’s support has meant.

“The fact that somebody cares and comes by who didn’t even know me, and decides to help me and believe in me, and that I can do it,” he said.

And Dale has no doubt about that.

“It was dark, and he kept talking to me and kept telling me it’s going to be okay,” said Francesca Caterisano of Clarksville.

On Craigslist under ‘personals, missed connections’ is a message Caterisano posted titled, ‘Looking For The Man Who Held My Hand at the Accident on the 27th Sept.’

“He kept me alive,” she said. “He kept me awake. He kept me going.”

Both of them deployed to Afghanistan two years ago, Steven Gibson first heard his future wife, Caterisano, as she worked air traffic control and did everything he could to meet the girl behind the voice.

“The moment we met, the moment we connected, that was it,” said Caterisano. “It was like a fairy tale.”

One year later, Gibson proposed at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve.

“He was the greatest man ever,” said Caterisano. “I hope every woman gets to have a man like him.”

Last month, Clarksville police said Gibson and Caterisano were riding their motorcycle through an intersection on Madison Street when they were hit by a car driven by Jonathon Olson, who police said was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

“I heard the kid who hit us just going out of control, ‘Oh my God! He’s dead,’ ” said Caterisano. “That’s how I found out. There was someone who held my hand, continuing to keep me aware of my surroundings so I could live.”

Recovering at Signature HealthCare of Clarksville after treatment at Vanderbilt, Caterisano said someone has responded to her Craigslist post, and she’ll meet that person soon to find out if that’s the man who held her hand. Holding a picture of her first Valentines with Gibson close, Caterisano said she needs the chance to say ‘thank you’ to the person who made sure she wasn’t alone on the night she lost the one she loved most.

“How incredibly thankful I am he helped me,” said Caterisano. “He kept me alive.”

Caterisano said she has major complications with her left leg and her spine was separated from her pelvis. She said after months of treatment, she will be able to walk again.

An update a few days ago stated: “Found, the man who held my hand at the accident on Sept. 27.”

“I had no idea my post would go viral…let alone lead me to being on the 5pm news two days later. absolutely amazing.
well…the man who held my hand responded to my ad. i would like to say thank you to all the strangers who wanted to help and sent their support to me. everyone i know, every stranger, everyone who has supported me during this time….its changing me for the better, and how i feel about people. iv always believed in the good in people; but the enforcement in this situation is outstanding. thank you to every one.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A family is grateful after an assistant principal managed to bring a student who suffers from seizures back to life.

Jimmy Kistner was relieved to see his daughter, Kennedy Kistner, smile because he hadn’t in a few days.

“You hate to see that phone call, especially during school hours,” Jimmy Kistner said. “It kind of makes my heart start, my adrenaline start rushing.”

Kennedy, a freshman at Strattford High School, suffers from seizures. Doctors don’t yet fully understand why.

“I’ve had them ever since I was about 8 years old,” Kennedy said. “I just fall out and actually come back.”

Last week, Kennedy suffered a seizure while she was leaving school with her friends. This time, she didn’t come back.

“She went still and immediately we checked her vital signs, pulse and breathing, and she started to gradually turn blue,” said Jeff Davis, assistant principal at Strattford High.

Davis performed CPR for five minutes.

“She’s one of mine,” Davis said. “That’s how we feel here. I was working as urgently as I would have if it was my own daughter.”

Kennedy had flat-lined. With help, Davis was able to bring her back to life.

“I knew the more people, the better,” he said.

In their lifetime, most people never end up performing CPR. The other time Davis had to do it, he was 16 and his father had just had a heart attack.

“I just got retrained this year,” Davis said.

Kennedy said Davis is now her hero.

“I owe him my life,” she said.

According to Davis, it was a group effort and part of his job.

“Even now, just talking about it, you feel your emotions coming up because you care for these kids,” Davis said. “You’re not only responsible for their education, their health and safety from 7:05 to 2:05, but you sincerely care about them. This is what we do.”

Medics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center moved Kennedy from the ICU Tuesday night. They now know that her heart is what’s causing the seizures. Her family said now that they know the root of the problem, they hope Kennedy will find a long-term solution and be able to live a normal life.

MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. — The Millersville Police Department will institute policy changes after an officer pulled over a vehicle with a dead child in the trunk.

Millersville Police Chief David Hindman said an officer pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 65 Wednesday afternoon because the temporary tags were unreadable.

WSVM reports that the driver presented a Saudi driver’s license and told the officer he had a deceased baby in his trunk that he was transporting for a proper Muslim burial.

The officer asked to see the child, but the driver refused and told him it was against his religion. The officer then let the driver go.

When the officer reported the incident to superiors, they put out the word for neighboring agencies to be on the lookout.

Hindman said the officer will not be suspended and he will be disciplined according to policy and procedure.

At a press conference Thursday, Hindman said the father and two relatives were carrying a dead fetus to a private Muslim cemetery in Franklin, TN. The father had a permit from the coroner allowing him to do this.

“You have to understand this is a one in a million incident,” Hindman said. “In my 30 years of law enforcement, I have never seen or heard of something like this happening.”

Hindman added that the father tried to show the permit to the officer, but the language barrier made that difficult.

Hindman reiterated that this was a mistake and the officer should have asked to see the body and called a supervisor. The incident will also lead to additional training and policy changes for the entire police department.

Hindman added that police sometimes overlook when people have driver’s licenses from other countries as the law isn’t black and white in that area.

Two former Vanderbilt University football players were found guilty of rape and sexual battery by a Nashville jury on Tuesday, CNN affiliates reported.

Corey Lamont Batey, 21, and Brandon Robert Vandenburg, 21, were each convicted on four counts of aggravated rape, one count of attempted aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also convicted of tampering with evidence and unlawful photography.

The victim, who was unconscious when she was raped in a dormitory on June 23, 2013, released a written statement that was read to the media by an assistant district attorney. It said she hoped publicity from the case would help spur conversation on how to end sexual assaults in all college campuses.

“Finally, I want to remind other victims of sexual violence: You are not alone. You are not to blame,” the victim’s statement said, according to CNN affiliate WKRN.

Corey Lamont Batey

The victim was in court Tuesday and cried when the verdicts were read, the station reported.

“Sexual violence against women is wrong,” said Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk, according to CNN affiliate WSMV. “Don’t blame the culture. Don’t blame alcohol. Don’t blame the victim. Sexual violence is a crime, and it will be prosecuted.”

The jury deliberated for three hours, the CNN affiliates reported.

Brandon Robert Vandenburg

Prosecutors had argued that the two men, who were teammates on the football team, had a feeling of entitlement when Vandenburg brought his 21-year-old unconscious date to his dorm room. According to CNN affiliate WTVF, the victim testified she remembers nothing from that night.

Each man was represented by a different attorney, but they both argued that the players were very drunk that night and the video of the incident didn’t prove guilt, WTVF reported.

Albert Perez Jr., who represents Vandenburg, said his client was unable to comprehend what happened.

“It’s very difficult for a person who is young to understand what happened, because he asked me, ‘What happened?’ He didn’t understand,’ ” the attorney said, WKRN reported.

Another of his attorneys, Fletcher Long, told CNN they will consider an appeal but won’t make a decision on that until sentencing. He said the state failed to prepare a proper indictment.

Batey’s lawyer, Worrick Robinson, said there were “several tragedies in this case,” according to the station.

Vanderbilt’s vice chancellor for public affairs said sexual violence will not be tolerated at the prestigious school. The two men were both kicked off the football team and kicked out of school months ago, Beth Fortune said.

“We are confident we acted appropriately,” she said. “Our heart goes out to the victim. Her testimony was forceful and brave. She has received our care and support.”

Two other former players — Brandon Banks and Jaborian McKenzie — have been charged but are yet to face trial in the case. They have pleaded not guilty. They were also dismissed from the football team.

Aggravated rape is a Class A felony punishable by 15 to 80 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 6.

ADAMS, Tenn. — A woman driving early Sunday morning noticed what she thought was a piece of wood burning in an open field near her Robertson County home.

Instead, officials discovered it was a body burning in the field off Highway 76 near Port Royal Road.

The body was found about 500 feet from the Sulphur Fork Creek.

“I could not believe what I had seen,” said Elizabeth Stuard, who called authorities. “I see a light up here in the field.”

When she drove closer, she thought it was a log burning.

Worried the fire might grow, she called 911.

As firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, they discovered they were human remains.

“This is a rural area. It stays pretty quiet usually,” said Ryan Martin, public information officer for the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office.

With the help of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, officials are treating the case as a homicide.

“But not ruled it as a homicide. We’ll try to develop leads from there,” said Martin.

The identity of the remains have not been identified and have been taken to the medical examiner’s office in Nashville.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — A missing woman was found frozen to the ground after last week’s ice storm. Patricia, 74, survived the freezing temperatures thanks to a man who spotted her car and stopped to see if everything was OK. Keith Sheldon works for Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, but his true passion in life is photography. Sheldon took photos of downed power lines from the ice storm last week.

“I’d taken this right before I came out and found her,” Sheldon said.

Last Friday, Sheldon took the day off to take pictures of the ice and snow in Franklin. As he went to leave, he realized the road was too icy and turned around. As he turned around, he noticed a gray Lexus stuck in a ditch. Sheldon started taking pictures of the car, thinking it might belong to someone at a nearby church.

“As I was taking my third photo is when I noticed the lady in front of the car,” Sheldon said.

Not knowing if she was dead or alive, Sheldon called out to the woman. She was unresponsive.

“I walked over to her and when I got next to her, she opened her eyes,” Sheldon said.

Sheldon didn’t know how long the woman had been there. It was 15 degrees outside at the time. Once paramedics arrived, they realized she was frozen to the ground.

“We lifted her up off the ground and you could hear it breaking between her body and the ground,” Sheldon said.

It turned out Patricia had been reported missing by her family two days earlier. According to the missing person’s report, she has several brain injuries from horseback riding. The woman reportedly told her family she was heading to Winner’s Circle Farms in Franklin, but never made it there.

“Part of me wonders if I hadn’t come up, I don’t know how long anyone could live in that weather,” Sheldon said.

Sheldon said he feels fortunate he just happened to be there taking pictures that day.

“I was sent there for a reason, I think, and I’m glad for it,” he said.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A young girl wrote her friend a letter that explained she could not go to her birthday party because she is black. The children are students at Highland Oaks Elementary near Memphis. Civil rights activist Lasimba Gray said he hoped the letter can turn into a teaching experience.

“Fifty-two years since the Dr. King ‘I have a dream speech,’ you would think that the basis for racism would disappear, but evidently it is being perpetuated by those who teach it,” Gray said. Gray, who has dedicated his life to civil and human rights, said when he saw the letter he called it “regrettable” because a parent told their child it was OK to judge someone based on the color of their skin.

“Every child has a blank canvas when they come into the world,” Gray said.

The letter reads in part, “Maybe I will not be able to go to your birthday sleepover because my dad will not let me go because you are black.”

The birthday sleepover was for Harmony Jones. When her father, Christopher Jones, saw the letter, he said he was surprised.

“It angered me a little bit, it hurt me that my 10-year-old girl had to deal with this, and I myself never thought I would have to deal with this,” he said.

Jones said he doesn’t blame his daughter’s friend.

“I guess us as parents need to be more aware and conscious about what we teach our children,” he said.

As regrettable as the note is, Gray hopes it’s something everyone can learn from.

“When parents run across racism that’s a good moment to teach tolerance but more than that to teach understanding to appreciate each other and celebrate our diversity,” Gray said.

The Jones family did not let the letter ruin Friday’s party. Harmony still had a successful birthday.

The school didn’t have a comment about what happened.

Amy LeeAnn Murphy (PHOTO: Murphy Family)

EMPORIA, Va. — Nearly two months after her burned body was found in a Tennessee field, investigators tracked down one of the people believed responsible for the murder of Amy LeeAnn Murphy. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Kellum Williams, 34, Monday after a tip led them to Emporia, Virginia.

“Approximately a week and a half ago, U.S. Marshal Service investigators contacted their counterparts in the federal Eastern District of Virginia with a lead on the possible location of Williams,” United States Marshals Service  Deputy U.S. Marshal  Desmond Proctor said. “At approximately 2:30 p.m., the U.S. Marshal Service fugitive task force investigators based in Richmond, Virginia, with the assistance of the Greensville County Sheriff’s Office, located this fugitive. Williams was arrested without incident in an apartment in Emporia and transported to a local detention facility.”

Williams was wanted for first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and violation of community corrections in Tennessee. He was considered one of that state’s Top 10  Most Wanted Fugitives.

Kellum Williams (PHOTO: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Williams is one of five suspects charged in connection with Murphy’s murder. The other suspects were previously captured. Murphy’s burning body was found February 1 in Robertson County, Tennessee.  Murphy, a mother of three, was the aunt of Sandra Murphy, one of the suspects arrested in connection with her death, according to a report in The Leaf-Chronicle.

“My sister was an exceptional person. She had an amazing personality, was so talented and good hearted,” Sara Fields wrote on a GoFundMe page created to raise money for Murphy’s children — ages five, 10 and 11. “This is a very difficult time for all of us, especially her babies. We appreciate any and all support.”

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — A Tennessee woman was enjoying her lunch when she made a shocking but wonderful discovery inside of her food.

Toni Elliott was dining at Puckett’s Boat House when she bit into an oyster and found 51 pearls.

“The manager of the restaurant came over and said, ‘I hear you got a pearl in your oyster.’ I said, ‘Well I’m up to ten so far,’” Elliott told WKRN.

All 51 pearls came from the same oyster, according to WKRN.

The lucky lady says she doesn’t know how much the pearls are worth, but plans to keep them as a souvenir.

SWEETWATER, Tenn. — A pregnant woman in Tennessee woke up after a four-month coma only to discover she had given birth.

Sharista Giles, 20, woke up this week after being in a coma since December. According to a Facebook post on a support page, Giles opened her eyes and squeezed a friend’s hand.

The accident happened when she and a friend were driving home from a concert and her friend fell asleep at the wheel, crashing the car. Giles suffered severe head trauma and doctors said her chances of a complete recovery were less than 10 percent, according to WPVI.

“The doctors were telling us there was nothing else they could do,” said Beverly Giles, 49, of Madisonville, Tennessee, told ABC News. “They already gave up hope. We never gave up. She’s fought this hard.”

In January, Giles gave birth to “Baby L” while she was in a coma. On Wednesday, the 20-year-old opened her eyes for the first time in months.

Doctors are still trying to determine Giles’ prognosis.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Surveillance video released on Monday shows a group of high school students beating a man at a Tennessee gas station.

Police said a large group of Northwest Prep Academy students swarmed a BP gas station outside Memphis.

“As we got to the car they are in the parking lot throwing up gang signs and putting up a ruckus,” Orrden Williams, Jr. said.

Williams told WREG one of the kids “sucker punched” him. After he was attacked, dozens of teenagers swarmed the gas station. Workers held the door shut as the children rushed the entryway.

Williams ran to his car where one teen threw punches just inches away from his baby’s head. He said he considered using a gun to defend his family.

“It would have been a couple of ‘mommas’ whose child wouldn’t have come home — justifiably not coming home,” Williams said.

Police said the baby was not injured, but Williams was reportedly bruised all over his upper body.

Williams said he wants the children involved in the beating cited and taken to juvenile court.

It remains unclear what provoked the group of teens to attack the man.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If you’ve ever thought you’re too old to volunteer, you should meet 95-year-old Charles Cunningham.

“I don’t understand why more people don’t volunteer,” Cunningham said.

WSMV reports that Cunningham has always been there to answer the call. He flew P-40 fighter planes in combat during World War II. Now, he’s driving a Mustang, delivering wheels on meals.

“Well I had a Mustang back in 1966, and I wish I still had it,” he said. “Along came 2011, and so I got me another Mustang.”

Every week, Mid-Cumberland Meals on Wheels loads up Cunningham with meals for delivery.

“I tell folks I deliver meals on wheels to the old folks,” he said.

Many of those “old folks” are younger than Cunningham and always happy to see him.

At the kitchen where the meals are made, Cunningham is a favorite.

“He’s very experienced,” said Debby Persch with Mid-Cumberland Meals on Wheels, “Don’t have to tell him anything. He just takes his meals and goes.”

Cunningham said he always goes where called, whether it’s Uncle Sam or higher.

“We’re told to keep busy in the Lord’s business, and this is one way to fill that requirement,” he said.

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. — Kids at a school district in Tennessee were served meat from 2009 at school cafeterias. The meat had been in the freezer for several years before being served last week. There were no reports of any student getting sick.

“They go to school and that might be the only meal they get all day long and it just very upsets me that these kids are going to school to get that meal,” father and county commissioner  Michael Herrerll said. “It just didn’t go over well with me that I heard we were feeding these kids the meat that’s dated 2009.”

Herrell said a cook at the Cherokee High School also told him the meat was bad, but the cafeteria manager told the worker to cover it with gravy to give it a better taste.

The USDA guideline for quality and taste for pork roast is between four to 12 months. Hawkins County Director of School Steve Starnes said he planned to follow the guidelines and implement new procedures.

“We also began inventory on all of our frozen food items,” Starnes said. “[We want] to make sure we’re not going to be incorporating not only the package date, but also the delivery date on our inventory items, make sure we know exactly when those items came in.”

The school system also planned to start random quarterly inspections.

WINCHESTER, Tenn. — What was supposed to be a patriotic display turned into a harrowing sight when a parachutist crashed into a power line Saturday.

WSMV reports the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was on display at Winchester City Park and a parachute demonstration from veteran jumpers was scheduled as part of Memorial Day festivities.

“We jumped from an airplane at 8,000 feet and attempted to land in the designated area,” said Derek Slade, the team captain for the Flying Like You Stole It Parachute team.

“One of the guys pulled up on his chute and a gust of wind caught him and put him into the high tension wires,” said Richard Russo, manager for the traveling Vietnam Memorial wall.

He dangled in the wires for a few minutes while the crowd looked on.

“It was scary. He ended up with luck on his side,” said Russo. “After he got off the wires, the chute opened up a little bit and broke his fall.

To those watching, it seemed the worse had happened.

“It appeared that he was seriously injured,” said Slade. “He just walked away with some cuts and bruises.”

Slade said these events are tightly planned, but sometimes the elements get the upper hand.

“As he was coming in, he got a gust of wind. Those power lines are nearly invisible from up above,” said Slade. “No matter how much we plan, how professional we are, how experienced we are, people make mistakes. The weather is something we can’t predict or change.”

The parachutist was dismissed from the hospital Saturday night.

“Miraculously he got up out of the hospital last night and walked away,” said Slade.