Mother Lost Fight Over Soldier Son's Body, Killed in Iraq

Renee Amick's son, Army Staff Sgt. Jason Hendrix, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on February 16, 2005. Renee sued to get custody of his remains to bury them in California. She lives in California. Jason left no will, and the Army rule is to give the remains to the eldest surviving parent when there is no will, no spouse and no surviving child. Jason's father, Russell Hendrix,is 48 years old; Renee is 45. The Army gave Jason's remains to Russell, who lives in Oklahoma. Russell and Renee divorced in 1991 and Russell was awarded custody of Jason. In April, Jason was buried in Oklahoma, in a plot next to his father's father, a former Marine. Renee wanted Jason's remains exhumed and sent to California to be re-buried there. The judge ruled that Jason should remain buried in Oklahoma. He wrote, "The testimony of the mother appeared forced and contrived. The tears were not genuine." There are two similar cases pending in Nevada and Michigan. For more information, see .