Competency evaluation ordered for Detroit man charged with theft of dad's corpse

Vincent Bright, 48, accused of taking 93-year-old father's body, putting it in freezer

DETROIT – A man who police say took his 93-year-old father's corpse from a Detroit cemetery and stored the body in a freezer has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation.

Vincent Bright, 48, is charged with disinterment of a dead body for allegedly taking the casket of his father, Clarence, from Gethsemane Cemetery on Jan. 14.

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At a hearing Thursday, Bright initially expressed dissatisfaction with his court-appointed attorney, Gerald Karafa. But after a short break and a conversation with his attorney, Bright told the court he would "stick with him."

A competency hearing for Bright was set for March 26.

He'll remain in a forensic facility until then on a $75,000 cash bond.

Casket found in van

Police found Clarence Bright's casket in a van that was parked at a gas station at Harper Avenue and Dickerson Street.

His body was found in a freezer in his son's home on Eastland Street.

---Gas station where empty casket was found

Sources said Bright's son had told family and friends he thought God would bring his father back to life. In fact, when police picked him up he was reportedly saying, "Wake up daddy. Wake up."

The story from the beginning:

Read: Coffin, body stolen from Detroit Cemetery

Read: Casket stolen from Detroit cemetery found, son taken into custody

Read: Missing father's body discovered in Detroit home on Eastlawn Street

Man charged in theft of dad's corpse from cemetery