A woman is suing an Alabama hospital where her 58-year-old mother died, accusing the facility of leaving her body to decompose in an unrefrigerated room for nearly two days.

By failing to properly store her remains, the hospital left her body to decompose to the point where her daughter, Toilicia Williams, could no longer have an open-casket funeral for her mother as planned, according to her lawsuit against Springhill Medical Center in Mobile.

Toilicia Williams' mother, Charlene Williams, died at the hospital the evening of Dec. 14, 2023, a complaint filed Dec. 10 says.

She had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and died of cardiac arrest, according to personal injury attorney Roger Varner Jr., who is representing her daughter.

"Ms. Williams' body was actively decaying so her remains were badly decomposed when my client saw her," Varner told McClatchy News on Dec. 17.

Varner said there was "extreme bloating" and "discoloration."

Springhill Medical Center, which is accused of negligence, didn't immediately respond to McClatchy News' request for comment Dec. 17.

"Just losing my mama has been the hardest things that I had to deal with, and by seeing her body like that, I just want some answers," Toilicia Williams told WPMI-TV.

"I want to know why. Why would they leave her body like that?"

The hospital's president and CEO, Jeff St. Clair, told WPMI-TV that the facility doesn't comment on pending litigation.

According to Varner, Springhill is the only hospital in Mobile that lacks a morgue.

He told McClatchy News that it appears the bodies of patients who die there are temporarily kept in a cool room, which he described as a closet, inside the hospital.

"Based on the condition of (Charlene Williams), it appears the closet was either malfunctioning or Ms. Williams' body was not placed in the closet," Varner said.

After her mother's death, Toilicia Williams agreed to have staff at Springhill send her mother's body to Small's Funeral Home in Mobile, according to the complaint.

Before her body went to the funeral home, staff stored her remains in "an inadequately refrigerated room for 1 day, 14 hours, and 22 minutes," the complaint says.

Toilicia Williams saw her mother's decomposed body afterward, at the funeral home, according to the complaint.

"I cried....We fell down to the floor. It was just devastating to see her like that," she told the TV station.

Springhill is accused of not providing Toilicia Williams with an explanation, leaving her family with no answers.

Varner said she called the hospital after seeing her mother, but no one answered or called her back.

"A traditional viewing of my client's mother's body at the funeral was impossible due to the advanced stages of decomposition," Varner told McClatchy News.

Toilicia Williams is asking the court for a judgment against Springhill Medical Center.

She's seeking an unspecified amount in damages and demands a jury trial, the complaint shows.

"Because of Springhill Medical Center's improper care of my client's mother's remains, my client was deprived of a proper and dignified burial for her mother," Varner said.

"We are deeply concerned about the serious issues raised in this case and are confident in pursuing justice for our client through the legal process," he added.