In a shocking incident of oversight or perhaps worse, a California family interred the body of a homeless man, whom the police identified as the Kerrigan family`s eldest son. When the real son visited a family friend after the funeral, things came to light.

The Orange County Coroner`s office informed Frank Kerrigan, 81, over phone that a homeless person was found dead and claimed that it was his son. The father was not required to identify the body, as the officials said that they had found enough proof of identity.

The family said that they were allowed to see the body only post autopsy, by which time the body was too unidentifiable. The supposed body of the son was interred next to the grave of his mother, who died a decade ago.

After the family realized through a family friend that the son was in fact alive, they decided not to keep quiet about this gross mistake that cost them their happiness. The family`s attorney is expected to file a lawsuit and is seeking about $2 million in damages.