The body of Houston attorney and philanthropist Jessica Rossman was cremated and returned to her longtime partner, Gordon Bethune, last week, according to statements made by his lawyer on Wednesday.
Her brother, Lucho Rossman, expressed frustration over the cremation, revealing that he was not informed of the decision and still remains unclear about the circumstances surrounding his sister’s death. He mentioned that he didn’t know the whereabouts of her body until Wednesday and is still searching for answers regarding where and how she passed away.
Jessica Rossman, 56, passed away on the evening of March 31 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as confirmed by a death certificate issued by Mexican authorities, which was later obtained by the Chronicle.
The confirmation that her body had been cremated prior to family notification has raised further questions for Lucho Rossman, who identified himself as her only next of kin. He had hoped to arrange for an autopsy in the U.S. to better understand the cause of his sister’s death but was unable to do so.
Although the family requested an American autopsy, Jessica Rossman’s body was cremated on April 23, following Mexican legal procedures, and her remains were returned to Bethune on April 25, as confirmed by his lawyer, Billy Shepherd.
