Danilo’s paternal family claims to have also offered to pay.
“It's very hurtful because we as a family even offered to help and to pay for everything. And all she wanted from me in a text message or a Facebook message was that she wanted my voice to help raise the $50,000 but she couldn't explain to me why,” says Coles.
Danilo’s paternal grandmother is questioning if custody was established. This is the letter Clemons sent to the county, stating that there was an inquiry into the child’s wellbeing, but that should not stop the mother from burying him.
The letter is from Colorado, not Illinois where the child was living with his grandmother.
“Were you surprised when I called you and told you that the body was still sitting in a funeral home?” Yami asks. “Yeah, I think it's tragic. The boys suffered so much,” says Lozito.
Allen and Coles say the law should require more before a body is released especially that of a child who dies from abuse.
“I mean, does this law need to be clarified?” Yami asks. “It could be clarified on there if it has to do with, especially when there are a number of family members that are involved. And there were different caretakers for him in the process,” says Lozito.
In a phone call, Danilo’s mother told Fox San Antonio that no one has offered to pay for the funeral. And that there was a mix up with paperwork to get funding for a funeral
“The funeral home said they were waiting on the application because it was pending. I just spoke to one of the directors, I had an appointment with the funeral home to make these arrangements today because they said they know is going to be approved, due to what happened to my son, but they're gonna let me go ahead and start the process early,” says Ashley Clemons, Danilo’s mother.
As of last Friday, the funeral home told Danilo’s uncle that no arrangements have been made.
“They transported him to Illinois, and they also offered you money to bury him once he got to Illinois?” Yami asks.
“No, I was never offered any money to bury him,” says Clemons.
“So as of right now, Danilo has not been buried?” Yami asks.
“Look and I'm telling you about Danilo, plus more. You don't care about that, because you want the information that you want. But what I'm going to tell you is get the f*** off my phone,” says Clemons.
Danilo’s grandmother now fears the funeral home will think he’s been abandoned.
“He is not abandoned, he is loved. And to let him lay up like that looks like we just throw him away. And we did not because we want to help. But we don't know what avenues at this point that you didn't go through. Because she won't allow it,” says Coles.
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