At a Glance
- A Portland funeral home mistakenly dug up a grave after double-booking a plot.
- The error involved the vault purchased by Paula Tin Nyo for her son, 20-year-old Tyber Harrison.
- A court ruled the plot belonged to the Reser family, leading to a legal dispute and emotional fallout.
- Why it matters: Families face distress when burial sites are mismanaged, highlighting the importance of accurate record-keeping.
On Tuesday, friends and family gathered at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Northwest Portland to lay the 20-year-old Tyber Harrison to rest. Instead, the cemetery’s crew unearthed the grave after discovering the plot had been double-booked. The incident has sparked a lawsuit and deep emotional pain for the families involved.
The Unearthed Grave
Skyline Memorial Gardens had sold the plot to Martin and Jane Reser in 2019 for their son, but in 2021 Paula Tin Nyo purchased a vault there for her late son’s mementos. When the cemetery dug the site, it revealed the buried body of Tyber Harrison, who died in 2016 after a car collision in Florida.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Tyber Harrison dies in Florida |
| 2019 | Plot sold to Reser family |
| 2021 | Tin Nyo purchases vault for mementos |
| Tuesday | Grave unearthed by Skyline |
Legal and Emotional Fallout
Court documents show Tin Nyo breached the contract by adding cremains to the vault, which was not permitted. The judge sided with Skyline and returned the plot to the Reser family. A Multnomah County civil jury later ruled that Skyline’s negligence did not cause severe emotional distress to Tin Nyo.
- David Williams (Paula’s husband) said:
> “I think the humanity or lack of it, the cruelty, and someone feeling so entitled that they just wanted that piece of property when someone’s [Tin Nyo’s] son is already in the ground was sort of unfathomable and she just didn’t know how to manage that.”
- David Williams added with tears:
> “They didn’t think she would suffer. I can’t imagine anyone thinking that she wouldn’t suffer. I’m sad for those people that think this way.”
Responses
Skyline Memorial Park issued a statement refusing to comment, citing privacy. The Reser family declined to participate in the lawsuit, stating they were compelled to join against their wishes. Nexstar’s KOIN attempted to contact the Resers but received no reply.
> “Out of respect for the privacy of those we are honored to serve, we will not be commenting on this matter.”
Key Takeaways
- The grave was unearthed after a double-booking error at Skyline Memorial Gardens.
- A court returned the plot to the Reser family, sparking legal and emotional conflict.
- The incident highlights the need for accurate record-keeping in funeral homes.
The incident underscores the critical need for accurate record-keeping in funeral homes and the profound impact such errors can have on grieving families.
