On Thursday, July 17, 2025, police in Monrovia were observed opening a casket containing the body of a woman during an inspection operation amid ongoing protests in the city. As protesters gathered at various locations, a gray taxi with license plate A120547 was intercepted by officers along the route between the Foreign Ministry and the Capitol Building. The police ordered the family members inside the taxi to open the casket out of concern that it might be used to transport weapons.
Despite the family’s desperate attempts to convince the police that the casket contained a corpse—by connecting them with someone they claimed was a doctor from the John F. Kennedy Hospital and presenting a death certificate—the officers insisted on opening the casket to verify its contents. Upon opening it, they discovered the dead woman, who was prepared for burial.
After inspecting the coffin, the officers allowed the vehicle to proceed to its destination. In a statement to reporters after the incident, Patrick Teton, a family member, described the inspection as “traumatic and inhumane.” He explained that the body in the casket was that of their late sister, whom they had just picked up from the hospital and were on their way to bury. Teton accused the officers of showing gross disrespect and causing emotional harm.
“This is our sister. We just picked up her body from the hospital and were on our way to make burial preparations. The police embarrassed us and disrespected her memory,” Teton stated. The distressed family member also called for accountability for the violation of funeral ethics and basic human decency.
“We are still in shock. To open a casket like that in front of everyone, including cameras and strangers, is something we will never forget,” said a passerby. Meanwhile, one of the officers explained that the decision to stop and open the casket was driven by concerns that it could be used to transport weapons to the protest gathering.
According to the officer, the Joint Security was not taking any precautions lightly, emphasizing that they would do everything possible to protect citizens, including protesters. He stated, “We were doing our job. It was not about disrespect; it was about preventing any potential unrest or protest tactics. We regret that it had to happen this way, but it was necessary under the circumstances.”
