Joseph Hutchison Jr., vice president of operations at Hutchison Funeral Home in Detroit, has died at age 65. He was found Thursday night at the Harbortown apartments off East Jefferson Avenue after a friend went to check on him around 8 p.m. Homicide detectives say they do not currently believe foul play was involved, and the investigation into the circumstances of his death remains open.
His passing comes just days after Hutchison Funeral Home came under public scrutiny over serious allegations from a grieving family — though authorities have not established any connection between that controversy and Hutchison’s death.
The Family Business and Community He Leaves Behind
As vice president of operations, Hutchison was part of a family-run funeral home that has served Detroit families for decades, in a role centered on supporting people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. His death has brought sadness to family, friends, colleagues, and members of the community who knew him through that work.
The Controversy That Preceded His Death
Last week, the family of Kimberly Kaye Moore said they arrived at Hutchison Funeral Home for her viewing and instead found another woman dressed in Kimberly’s clothes and prepared in her place. Staff later told the family that Kimberly may have been mistakenly cremated after the two women’s remains were apparently mixed up.
Hutchison Funeral Home said it launched an internal review into the matter and expressed regret over the family’s experience. As of now, no public findings from that review have been released, and there’s no indication it is connected to Hutchison’s death.
A Separate, Unresolved Case: The Hyter Family
Around the same time, a second Detroit family has been raising concerns about the funeral home. Relatives of William Hyter Jr., who died unexpectedly on September 2, say the funeral home picked up his body on September 4 and completed an autopsy, but that the family is still waiting on a toxicology report to determine his exact cause of death.
According to the family, they paid for Hyter’s cremation on September 16 and were told his remains would be sent for cremation the following day. When relatives called a week later to follow up, they say they learned his body was still at the funeral home. Staff reportedly told the family that additional paperwork needed to be signed by Hyter’s children before the cremation could proceed; his son signed that paperwork Wednesday, but as of the latest update, the cremation still had not taken place.
What Happens Now
Hutchison’s death remains under investigation, and no further details about the circumstances have been released beyond what authorities have already confirmed. Separately, both the Moore and Hyter families are still seeking answers and accountability from Hutchison Funeral Home regarding how their loved ones’ remains were handled. It remains unclear how, or whether, the funeral home’s operations and internal review will be affected by Hutchison’s death.
