Family Discovers Sister Declared Dead Is Alive After Cremation Mistake

A Rochester, New York family mourned and cremated what they believed were the remains of their missing relative, Shanice Crews, after police told them she had died from a drug overdose and was found in an empty lot. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, the body was quickly cremated and the ashes were mixed with those of the family's matriarch for keepsake necklaces. Months later, the family received a shocking message from a stranger that Crews was still alive and had been seen volunteering at an event, accompanied by a recent photo of her. Despite police and the medical examiner initially asserting the remains matched Crews through dental records, further DNA testing later revealed the cremated body was not hers. The family now suspects the medical examiner relied on faulty identification to close the missing person's case, leaving them traumatized by the ordeal. The incident has sparked outrage and questions about the handling of unidentified remains and missing persons investigations.