Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
The Associated Press
St. Paul

Settlement reached in case involving discarded baby remains

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed against a St. Paul hospital after staff accidentally discarded a woman's stillborn baby in dirty laundry instead of cremating the remains.

Regions Hospital's attorney informed the judge presiding over the case last month that the issue had been settled, according to Ramsey County District Court documents. The documents included no details about the settlement.

The suit has since been dismissed, according to court documents. Attorneys for both parties declined to comment.

The baby's mother, Esmeralda Hernandez, and other family members filed the lawsuit against Regions in November, alleging reckless interference with a dead body and seeking unspecified damages "far in excess of $50,000" for ongoing pain, The Pioneer Press reported. The judge granted a motion by Regions in January to dismiss all the plaintiffs named in the suit aside from Hernandez, who now lives in Texas.

Hernandez gave birth to a premature, stillborn son named Jose in April 2013. She accepted the hospital's offer of a dignified cremation, but the baby's body was found two weeks later inside a dirty laundry bag from the hospital at Crothall Laundry Services.

At the time, the hospital issued a statement to apologize.

"We want to say again that we are truly sorry for our mistake," the statement said. "We immediately reached out to the family in 2013 to apologize and to try and help ease their loss. We have continued to work with their lawyer — always open to a reasonable resolution."

The hospital said it took immediate steps to ensure the situation wouldn't happen again.