Quortez Conley funeral expenses

(UPDATE) First, my 4 sons and I would like to thank everyone who so kindly donated to my son’s GoFundMe. I can’t begin to express my gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support that I’ve received from friends, and community.

With that being said, while my family is trying to take time to mourn, there are a few things that we’d like to address, as you’ve all been so kind to support us during this time.

On May 16, we setup this campaign with the intention of flying my son back to Michigan for burial. A series of events occurred that resulted in a change of heart to instead bury my son near us.

- At that time, I was unaware that the cost to fly him back to Michigan for burial was closer $20,000 than to $10,000 (e.g. cost to embalm before transport across state lines, ticket to transport to Michigan, casket, cement burial vault, services, land burial plot, headstone, plus family travel expense to Michigan, etc). With all of this new information re: the overall cost, we are so grateful for the support provided by this campaign, as it adequately covers the costs of a local burial in Arizona.

- On May 18, (4 days after my son’s murder, 2 days after the campaign began), I reached out son’s father’s family to advise that I was in a bind because the GoFundMe campaign funds were temporarily tied up as a function of their standard audit protocols.

- On May 19, (5 days after my son’s murder, 3 days after the campaign began) we were informed by a funeral in our hometown (which was strongly recommended by my son’s father’s family) that one of his great grandparent’s had taken out a life insurance policy on my 14 year-old son’s life. This was a huge shock, given that they knew that I was struggling to come up with funds.

- So, on the same day, I reached out to that side of my son’s family to ask for support from the policy to only cover upfront costs that required immediate payment in Arizona (e.g. transport from the coroner to a local funeral home, cost to embalm, fly back to Michigan, etc.)

- During the call, that family member consistently denied the existence of a policy on my son. Until she eventually conceded and told me that the policy was “none of my business”, and that they would not be contributing to the cost to help bury their grandson. Meanwhile, my understanding was that they’d also been collecting additional funds from their friends.

- Rewind back to the night my son was killed (May 14), and in the days following, this family member consistently pressured me for the ORIGINAL death certificate, which I later learned was necessary for this grandparent to receive a payment from the life insurance policy. During these calls, this grandparent continued only focus receipt of the death certificate, and that they had only $700-800, while keeping secret that they’d taken out an entire life insurance/ death benefit policy on my 14 year-old son. Again—which they later told me was none of my business.

- On May 25, (11 days after my son’s murder) this grandparent called me to FINALLY try to do the right and ethical thing, and offered to help pay the cost of a services in Michigan. However, at this point (which I advised them) that it was too late, as contracts with a local facility had already been signed and we’d already began to pre-pay for the immediate major expenses, locally. 

I hate that I have to use my son’s campaign page to air the shameful behavior of my son’s father’s family. But given that they have taken to tactics of slander, I have no choice but to set the record straight; and to give you all, who were so kind to donate, a complete and accurate explanation of why I was forced to change course.

This is my truth. And while I have audio recordings to support my above account, I have no desire to escalate this any further, as my goal is to respectfully bury my son with dignity and to FINALLY begin the grieving process. If required, I also have receipts for how the funds will be appropriated.

This has all been so painful, as in my deepest moment of pain I’ve been tasked with staying strong for my 4 boys, making arrangements, and unfortunately dealing with the above series of shameful events—while not having a moment of solitude to grieve. Yet, with a sound mind and heart, I now realize that it is best that my son be laid to rest near his nuclear family: his 4 brothers and myself. We’d truly prefer to have Quortez buried where we as a family can visit him regularly. 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU SUPPORT. 

Had it not been for the love and support of MY immediate family, my son’s friends, classmates, teachers, coaches, and larger community, I would not be able to respectfully bury my son as we seek justice for his killer. Now again about my son... After leaving his oldest brother’s football game on May 14, 2021, my 14 year-old son Quortez Conley was murdered in cold blood, by a 30 year old adult. Quortez was a smart, STRAIGHT A student, who took on several honors classes. But most importantly he was loving, charismatic, caring, and protective. 

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and kind words as I’ve been overwhelmed by the countless stories from his classmates about how my son was such a positive light in their lives, and in some cases I even learned how he’d talked a few fellow students from committing harm to themselves. He was blessing to everyone who knew him, and he will truly be missed. 

This has been the toughest week of my family’s entire life. And as we are faced with very new and tough decisions I am working hard to align to the proper priorities. My goal is to raise money for my son to have a proper burial, and to secure mental health services and grief counseling for his 4 brothers. If anyone knows of available mental health and counseling programs for trauma, please contact me below.

Thank you again for your kind wishes, prayers, and support.

Ms. Edna Crosby