Detroit Suburb Agrees to Settlement After Woman Wrongfully Declared Dead

A Detroit suburb has reached a significant settlement of $3.25 million with the family of a young woman who was initially declared dead at home. In a shocking turn of events, Timesha Beauchamp gasped for air and opened her eyes when her body bag was unzipped at a funeral home.

Beauchamp, who was just 20 years old and had cerebral palsy, was the subject of a 911 call in 2020 that led to accusations of gross negligence against Southfield paramedics. After their response, she was rushed to a hospital but tragically passed away two months later.

In a statement, Southfield acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying, “We recognize that no resolution can undo the profound tragedy that occurred on August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family. This case involved extraordinarily difficult circumstances that arose in the complex world of a global pandemic.”

On the day of the incident, Beauchamp was struggling to breathe, prompting her family to call 911. A medical crew attempted to resuscitate her and consulted a doctor who, without visiting the home, declared her dead over the phone.

Later that day, when a funeral home opened the body bag, they were astonished to find Beauchamp gasping for air. She was quickly transported to a hospital but unfortunately never recovered.

“She was put in a situation she never should have been in,” stated Steven Hurbis, an attorney representing Beauchamp’s family. He emphasized that medical professionals indicated she would have survived had she been taken to the hospital immediately from her home.

Initially, Southfield fought the lawsuit and managed to persuade a judge to dismiss it based on governmental immunity. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals later overturned that decision in 2024, allowing the case to proceed.

The Southfield fire chief suggested that Beauchamp’s situation might have been an instance of “Lazarus syndrome,” a term used to describe cases where individuals seemingly come back to life without medical intervention after resuscitation efforts have failed.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

A Detroit suburb has reached a significant settlement of $3.25 million with the family of a young woman who was initially declared dead at home. In a shocking turn of events, Timesha Beauchamp gasped for air and opened her eyes when her body bag was unzipped at a funeral home.

Beauchamp, who was just 20 years old and had cerebral palsy, was the subject of a 911 call in 2020 that led to accusations of gross negligence against Southfield paramedics. After their response, she was rushed to a hospital but tragically passed away two months later.

In a statement, Southfield acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying, “We recognize that no resolution can undo the profound tragedy that occurred on August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family. This case involved extraordinarily difficult circumstances that arose in the complex world of a global pandemic.”

On the day of the incident, Beauchamp was struggling to breathe, prompting her family to call 911. A medical crew attempted to resuscitate her and consulted a doctor who, without visiting the home, declared her dead over the phone.

Later that day, when a funeral home opened the body bag, they were astonished to find Beauchamp gasping for air. She was quickly transported to a hospital but unfortunately never recovered.

“She was put in a situation she never should have been in,” stated Steven Hurbis, an attorney representing Beauchamp’s family. He emphasized that medical professionals indicated she would have survived had she been taken to the hospital immediately from her home.

Initially, Southfield fought the lawsuit and managed to persuade a judge to dismiss it based on governmental immunity. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals later overturned that decision in 2024, allowing the case to proceed.

The Southfield fire chief suggested that Beauchamp’s situation might have been an instance of “Lazarus syndrome,” a term used to describe cases where individuals seemingly come back to life without medical intervention after resuscitation efforts have failed.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.