This undated photo provided by the family via attorney Aaron J. Freiwald shows U.S. Marine Brian LaLoup who died in 2012 while stationed in Greece. LaLoup's parents, Coatesville Pa. residents said when his body arrived home in Pennsylvania his heart was missing, and they’ve sued the Department of Defense. On Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, his mother, Beverly LaLoup, said a heart was later sent to them, but it wasn't her son's. (AP Photo/LaLoup Family)
December 10, 2013 - 2:33 PM
PHILADELPHIA - The parents of a Marine sergeant who died while stationed in Greece say his heart was missing when his body arrived home in Pennsylvania for burial. They've sued the Department of Defence.
Coatesville residents Craig and Beverly LaLoup say a military official told them about the heart only after 21-year-old Brian LaLoup's funeral last year.
They've been told he fatally shot himself at the U.S. Embassy compound and an Athens hospital performed an autopsy.
Beverly LaLoup said Tuesday a heart was later sent to them, but it wasn't their son's. Their lawsuit seeks at least the minimum $75,000 for a federal claim.
Washington, D.C., Greek Embassy spokesman Christos Failadis says the heart was removed for toxicology testing. He won't comment on where it went.
The Department of Defence says it doesn't comment on pending litigation.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013