James Webster, 82, died last month, but the Army veteran has yet to get a proper military burial because his remains are being held up in legal red tape.
- Vet died last month, but body held at funeral home waiting for payment
- He has no living relatives, estate being handled by a lawyer
- Congressman Jolly's office is now involved
With no living relatives coming forward to claim his body at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home in Dunedin, his casket sits there in storage, waiting for someone to pay nearly $4,000 in funeral fees.
Jack Geller is the attorney handling Mr. Webster’s estate, which valued at $250,000.
“I can't sign anything until the court says, ‘Jack, you're appointed personal representative, here are your letters.’ Until then, I'm just nominated," Geller said.
Meanwhile, the only person who feels like he’s speaking for Webster, is his longtime friend John McNamara.
“I'm not suggesting either of these people have acted dishonorably," he said. "I think both the attorney and the funeral home are doing what they can legally. But there's an impasse there.”
The situation has gotten the attention of Congressman David Jolly who said in an email to Bay News 9 that “…we are working to quickly resolve the situation to ensure Mr. Webster receives the burial he has earned and deserves as a veteran of the U. S. Army.”