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Grieving Chicago-area family struggling to bring daughter's body home from overseas

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Published  November 11, 2023 9:19pm CST
Beach Park
FOX 32 Chicago

'I am numb': Family struggles to bring Waukegan woman's body home from overseas

A beloved mother of two died on her way to Bali for a girls' trip. Justice's body is now being held in Taiwan. The family says getting her home will cost $37,000 and has started raising money to get her back.

BEACH PARK, Ill. - A Chicago-area family is grieving after the sudden death of a loved one happened overseas. They are remembering their beloved daughter, sister, friend, and mother to two little girls.

Kendra Harris has come to terms with the fact that her 26-year-old daughter Justice Gatlin is gone, but she can’t come to terms with the obstacles that prevent getting her baby home.

"She was going on a girl’s trip. With her friends. Friends and family," said Justice's dad, Donald Eugene Thompson Jr.

Justice never stepped foot on the tropical island of Bali. Instead, her family assumes she suffered a seizure and lost all vital signs on the way there.

"Now her body is being held in Taipei, Taiwan and we’re trying to raise the money to bring our little girl home," said Thompson.

Justice’s family is asking for the public's assistance. It will cost an estimated $37,000 to bring Justice’s body back to the States. The family has been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Taiwan.

Grieving Waukegan family struggling to bring daughter's body home from overseas

A Waukegan family is grieving after the sudden death of a loved one happened overseas. They are remembering their beloved daughter, sister, friend, and mother to two little girls.

"There’s going to be a cost as we have to get her body prepared to bring her home. Then there will be a price to bring her back to the airport."

The family has been able to raise $12,000 on their own. They started a GoFundMe Page titled ‘Help Bring Justice home!’ to help.

As of Saturday night, they have raised $7,000.

"I want to see my daughter. I want to see my baby. I need this for myself to see my child. I’m trying to just bring her home so I can give her the proper burial that she deserves," said Harris, "If it wasn’t a bang, if it wasn’t another country, with different regulations. It wouldn’t be my daughter. My daughter was sunshine. She was the sweetest person in the world. She is very intelligent."

The family said her death is painful enough to process but the extra stress of having her body overseas is unbearable.

"I’m just hoping, if you can, and if you have it in your heart to donate, please do. We just want to bring our little girls home," said Thompson.

You can donate to help bring Justice home here.

On top of financial assistance, the family is asking for continued prayers.