In her petition to the court, Heather Wagoner Peterson writes that Andrew Wagoner died on Feb. 18, 1996, in Butte County and his remains were left in a cardboard box at the cemetery by his then-wife, Jeannie Wagoner, who now resides in Oregon.
Wagoner had two children from prior marriages: Peterson and Andrew Wagoner III, who later changed his last name to Teats. Peterson claims in the suit that she contacted Jeannie Wagoner requesting that she release the remains to her, but she failed to respond.
A California Health and Safety Code states that the remains of a deceased person should go to the adult child of the decedent. A separate safety code also states that if the person who has possession of remains fails to do anything with them within 10 days, they will be passed down to the next of kin.
“Therefore, by operation of law, the surviving spouse, Jeannie Wagoner, has relinquished her right to control the disposition and arrange for funeral goods and services pertaining to Andrew Wagoner, Jr.,” the petition argues.
A hearing on Peterson's petition is scheduled for Nov. 17 at the Chico courthouse.
- By Makayla Hopkins